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Shieldai·San Diego, California·On-site

Senior Software Test and Automation Engineer (R4472)

full time·4-7 yrs exp·Posted Jan 31, 2026

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and 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:
Shield AI's Software Test & Automation Team develops the verification, validation, and automation capabilities that enable rapid delivery of Hivemind autonomy across the Expeditionary and Emerging Operations portfolio. Our mission is to provide objective evidence of software quality, reliability, and mission readiness by building scalable automated test frameworks, repeatable validation environments, and data-driven readiness assessments spanning simulation, Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), and Vehicle-in-the-Loop (VIL) environments.

As a Senior Software Test & Automation Engineer, you will design and develop automated test infrastructure, execute system-level verification activities, analyze software performance, and build the tooling that enables continuous validation throughout the development lifecycle. Working closely with autonomy software, systems engineering, digital infrastructure, and flight test teams, you will help ensure autonomy capabilities are validated, repeatable, and ready for operational deployment.

What you'll do:

  • Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks, validation tooling, and test infrastructure supporting autonomy software.

  • Develop and execute verification and validation strategies across simulation, SIL, HIL, VIL, and representative system environments.

  • Build automated regression, integration, functional, and performance test suites that improve software quality and deployment confidence.

  • Develop Python-based automation, test harnesses, and analysis tools that reduce manual testing effort and improve repeatability.

  • Analyze test results, identify software defects and integration issues, and support cross-functional root cause investigations.

  • Develop software quality metrics, dashboards, and readiness assessments that provide objective evidence of software maturity.

  • Integrate automated testing into CI/CD workflows to enable continuous validation and rapid developer feedback.

  • Collaborate with autonomy software, systems engineering, flight test, and integration teams to define validation strategies and readiness criteria.

  • Improve test infrastructure, automation coverage, and validation methodologies across the Expeditionary and Emerging Operations portfolio.

Required qualifications:

  • BS in Computer Science, Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering or related field.

  • 4–7 years developing software test, verification, automation, or validation solutions for robotics, autonomy, aerospace, or other complex distributed systems.

  • Strong proficiency in Python for automation, testing, and data analysis.

  • Experience developing automated test frameworks, test harnesses, or validation infrastructure.

  • Experience with Linux-based development environments.

  • Experience validating software in simulation, SIL, HIL, and/or representative hardware environments.

  • Experience debugging complex software and system integration issues.

  • Experience with CI/CD pipelines and continuous validation practices.

  • Strong understanding of software verification, regression testing, and quality assurance methodologies.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience with flight control systems such as ArduPilot or PX4.

  • Experience with unmanned aerial systems (fixed-wing, quadrotor, or both)

  • Background in autonomy, robotics, or aerospace systems

  • Familiarity with flight controllers, radios, and communications systems

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