Staff Technician, Flight Operations & Pilot Duties (R4117)

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 nine 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:We are seeking a Flight Operations Technician to support UAV flight operations, maintenance, and pilot duties across Shield AI’s fleet of quadcopter and fixed-wing drones. This role requires a hands-on professional who can execute safe, reliable, and efficient flight operations while performing technical upkeep and supporting engineering development.
The ideal candidate has a blend of aviation technical experience and UAV flight operations expertise, with a focus on safety, precision, and mission execution.

What you'll do:

• Flight Operations & Pilot Duties
• -Serve as Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) or Pilot in the Loop (PIL) for Shield AI UAV flight operations, including quadcopters and fixed-wing platforms.
• -Plan and conduct flight missions for testing, validation, demonstrations, and training.
• -Perform pre-flight and post-flight inspections, ensuring aircraft are flight-ready and mission-compliant.
• -Operate Ground Control Stations (GCS) to monitor aircraft telemetry, sensors, and payload systems.
• -Support mission planning, airspace coordination, and compliance with FAA Part 107 and military flight safety standards.
• -Execute field deployments for testing and demonstrations, including setup and teardown of operational sites.
• Technical Maintenance & Support
• -Conduct routine inspections, preventive maintenance, and component-level repairs for UAVs and support equipment.
• -Troubleshoot electrical, propulsion, avionics, and communication systems.
• -Assist in hardware integration, firmware updates, and sensor payload installations.
• -Maintain accurate documentation of maintenance, flight logs, and system configurations.
• -Support engineering teams in collecting and analyzing flight data for performance improvement.
• Team Collaboration & Mission Support
• -Work cross-functionally with software, mechanical, and test engineering teams to identify issues and propose solutions.
• -Participate in flight readiness reviews, safety assessments, and post-mission debriefs.
• -Contribute to flight procedure documentation and continuous process improvement efforts.
• -Serve as a technical representative during customer demos, training, and field testing events.

Required qualifications:

• Strong situational awareness and commitment to safety.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and technical curiosity.
• Ability to perform under pressure in dynamic environments.
• Clear communication and collaboration in cross-functional teams.
• Passion for advancing autonomous flight and national security missions.
• Associate’s degree or equivalent military/technical experience in aviation, electronics, robotics, or mechatronics.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (or ability to obtain within 60 days).
• 2+ years of experience operating or maintaining unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including both rotary and fixed-wing platforms.
• Hands-on experience with flight control systems, telemetry, and ground control software.
• Familiarity with FAA regulations, airspace coordination, and operational safety best practices.
• Ability to travel frequently for field operations, testing, and demonstrations (domestic and international).

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with autonomous or semi-autonomous UAV systems.
• Knowledge of RF communication systems, sensor payloads, and data link troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with Linux systems and scripting for test automation or flight data processing.
• Prior experience in defense, aerospace, or military UAV operations.
• Current or former military unmanned aviation background highly desirable.

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Full-time regular employee offer package:Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after