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Shield AI

Posted 6 months ago

Open

Senior Manager, Software Test and Automation (R4754)

DallasOn-siteFull-time

AI Summary

Lead verification and validation of autonomy and avionics software for next-gen aircraft systems, designing scalable automated test infrastructure and managing cross-functional test campaigns.

About this role

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description:

As the Senior Manager of Software Test, you will lead the verification and validation of autonomy, mission-oriented, avionics software for Shield AI’s next-gen aircraft systems. These platforms demand the highest levels of system integrity, operational reliability, and test rigor. Your role will center around designing scalable, automated test infrastructure, validating mission-critical behaviors across simulation and real aircraft environments, and enabling rapid, safe deployment of software to flight operations. You’ll partner closely with engineering, product, and flight test teams to ensure the system is testable, traceable, and always ready for mission.

This role focuses on accelerating software maturity and validation through rigorous, automated, and traceable testing practices for the VBAT platform.

What you'll do:

  • Build a world class software and system test infrastructure for rapid software deployments
  • Own end-to-end system test strategy for software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and vehicle-in-the-loop (VIL) environments—scaling them for continuous integration and rapid release cycles.
  • Design and implement mission-critical system test cases validating autonomous behaviors, requirements compliance, and operational edge cases across nominal, safety-critical, and degraded conditions.
  • Coordinate and execute flight test and software release campaigns, working cross-functionally with autonomy, embedded systems, flight ops, and safety engineering teams.

    • Required qualifications:

  • BS or MS in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field
  • 8+ years of experience in software testing, systems testing, or verification & validation for complex, safety-critical or mission-critical systems (autonomy, aerospace, defense, robotics, UAVs, etc.)
  • 3+ years of experience leading teams, including some experience managing other managers
  • Strong proficiency in test automation, scripting, data analysis, and test infrastructure development
  • Hands-on experience building and maintaining automated test frameworks (SIL, HIL, VIL, CI/CD pipelines)
  • Experience validating autonomous behaviors or distributed real-time systems
  • Deep understanding of software verification methodologies, including requirements traceability, test planning, and regression testing
  • Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testbeds, embedded systems, or avionics integration
  • Ability to design system-level test cases including edge cases, degraded modes, and safety-critical scenarios
  • Strong ability to work cross-functionally with autonomy, avionics, embedded, and flight ops teams
  • Excellent communication and documentation skills, especially around test plans, procedures, and safety considerations

    • Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience testing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), rotorcraft, or airborne mission systems
  • Knowledge of DO-178C, MIL-STD-882, STANAG, or other safety/airworthiness frameworks
  • Experience with simulation tools (Gazebo, Isaac, ROS/ROS2 simulation, custom autonomy sims, etc.)
  • Experience with continuous integration systems (Jenkins, GitLab CI, Buildkite, etc.)
  • Knowledge of autonomy algorithms (navigation, planning, perception) sufficient to design adversarial or mission-based test scenarios
  • Comfort operating in dynamic R&D environments where rapid iteration and tight feedback loops are the norm

    • Skills

    Avionics IntegrationBuildkiteCI/CD PipelinesData AnalysisDO-178CEmbedded SystemsGazeboGitLab CIHIL TestingJenkinsMIL-STD-882Regression TestingRequirements TraceabilityROS/ROS2 SimulationScriptingSIL TestingTest AutomationVIL Testing

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