Shield AI
Senior Technician, Unmanned System Test Operator (R5413)
San Diego, California · Senior · Full-time · Posted Oct 26, 2026
- Experience
- 5+ years operating and maintaining Group 1/2 UAS platforms; experience may be in test, military, commercial, or operational environments.
- Visa sponsorship
- U.S. citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance.
About the job
Operates and maintains Group 1/2 unmanned aircraft test assets and supports flight testing and operational assessment of Hivemind autonomy capabilities.
What you'll do
- Conduct flight operations, including aircraft preparation, launch and recovery, and post-flight maintenance.
- Configure, inspect, maintain, and troubleshoot aircraft, payloads, autopilots, and ground control systems.
- Execute test procedures and mission plans while supporting safety, FAA compliance, and operational procedures.
What they ask for
- 5+ years of experience operating and maintaining Group 1/2 UAS platforms.
- Knowledge of COTS UAS hardware, autopilot systems, ground control stations, communications systems, and payload integration.
- Working knowledge of FAA regulations, NAS operations, airspace coordination, and flight authorization requirements.
- FAA Part 107 certification or equivalent UAS operational experience; ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
Nice to have
- Experience supporting autonomy, AI-enabled systems, or developmental flight test programs, particularly multi-aircraft or distributed UAS operations.
- Fabrication experience or familiarity with QGC, Mission Planner, Ardupilot, or Px4; military UAS operations or test experience.
Tools
COTS UAS, autopilot systems, ground control stations, communications systems, QGC, Mission Planner, Ardupilot, Px4
AI focus
Supports integration, validation, and operational assessment of autonomy capabilities, including AI-enabled systems.
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative