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 Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description: At Shield AI, we are revolutionizing defense technology to protect service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Our Hardware Test Engineering team plays a critical role in ensuring X-BAT is reliable, resilient, and mission-ready. We develop custom electrical and mechanical test systems that evaluate aircraft hardware under representative and extreme environmental conditions.
As an Electrical Engineer I supporting X-BAT, you will help design, build, and automate systems that validate hardware ranging from power electronics and communications equipment to integrated aircraft subsystems. You will gain hands-on experience with PCB design, Python-based automation, instrumentation, and environmental testing, including HASS, ESS, and HALT. If you enjoy solving multidisciplinary problems, learning quickly, and building dependable aerospace hardware, this role is for you.
What you'll do:- Design, build, and validate test systems for critical X-BAT components and subsystems.
- Translate engineering requirements into test plans, procedures, and measurable pass/fail criteria.
- Support testing across power electronics, RF, communications, embedded hardware, and aircraft system integration.
- Design PCBs and interface electronics that connect test equipment to devices under test.
- Build custom test fixtures incorporating relays, PLCs, PCBAs, sensors, instrumentation, and harnessing.
- Develop Python scripts and other automation tools to improve test repeatability, efficiency, and scalability.
- Configure and operate laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, electronic loads, data-acquisition systems, and network analyzers.
- Analyze test data, identify trends and anomalies, and communicate results through clear technical reports.
- Troubleshoot aircraft hardware and test-system failures using structured root-cause analysis.
- Participate in cross-functional design reviews and advocate for design-for-test, reliability, and maintainability improvements.
- Partner with design, systems, software, manufacturing, and flight-test teams to resolve integration issues.
- Create and maintain schematics, bills of materials, test procedures, calibration records, and system documentation.
- Follow laboratory safety, configuration-control, and equipment-handling practices.
- Work closely with experienced engineers and technicians while progressively taking ownership of increasingly complex projects.
- Adapt and innovate in a fast-moving environment where your work directly affects aircraft performance, product quality, and mission success.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant hands-on experience may be considered. Students completing an applicable undergraduate or graduate degree in 2026 are also encouraged to apply.
- Strong foundation in circuit analysis, analog and digital electronics, and laboratory measurement techniques.
- Working knowledge of mechanical and software concepts used in multidisciplinary aerospace systems.
- Hands-on engineering experience through coursework, internships, employment, research, student organizations, or personal projects.
- Ability to read schematics, use standard electrical test equipment, and methodically troubleshoot hardware.
- Ability to document technical work clearly and communicate effectively with engineers, technicians, and other stakeholders.
- Demonstrated initiative, curiosity, sound judgment, and willingness to take ownership of technical problems.
- A team-first mindset and a record of working hard, acting with integrity, maintaining high standards, and treating others with respect.
Preferred qualifications:- Experience with Python or another scripting language used for test automation or data analysis.
- Experience with PCB design tools such as Altium Designer, KiCad, or Eagle.
- Familiarity with hardware interfaces such as UART, SPI, I C, CAN, Ethernet, or USB.
- Experience with automated test equipment, data-acquisition systems, or hardware-in-the-loop test systems.
- Familiarity with RF equipment, power electronics, embedded systems, or communications hardware.
- Exposure to environmental and reliability testing such as HASS, ESS, HALT, thermal cycling, vibration, or shock testing.
- Familiarity with mechanical CAD tools such as SolidWorks, NX, or CATIA.
- Experience with requirements management, version control, issue tracking, or configuration-controlled engineering workflows.
- Ability to prioritize effectively, solve problems under pressure, and adjust quickly as program needs evolve.
$103,000 - $155,000 a year
Compensation for this role is based on the position's work location. The salary range shown reflects the listed location and may vary if the position is based in a different geographic market. Actual compensation will also consider factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity.
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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 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
