Senior Engineer, Software Test and Automation (R4472)
- Salary
- USD 110,000 - 170,000 / per-year-salary
- Level
- Senior
- Work type
- On-site · San Diego
Not stated in the posting: visa.
Open. First seen 22 October 2026.
About the role
Shield AI's standard text
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
#LI-LD1
#LC
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's standard text
###
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.
What this role asks for
Particular to this role
Test Automation
Rare in Shield AI's other 299 open postings.
Standard for software engineering roles
Python
Common in software engineering postings at any company.
79% of this description is written for the role. The rest is Shield AI's standard text, folded away below.
Compared with Shield AI's other open jobs.
The team: Integration & Test HIRES STEADILY
This role is one of 28 open in Integration & Test. 16 were posted in the last 30 days and the oldest in January: a team that hires all year rather than one being built.
WHAT THE TEAM WORKS WITH, ACROSS ITS POSTINGS
Python (24 of 28), Linux (21 of 28), CI/CD (18 of 28), C++ (17 of 28), Test Automation (17 of 28), Git (15 of 28), Docker (12 of 28)
OTHER ROLES ON THIS TEAM
- Engineer I, Software - Factory Team (R6235) posted Oct 10
- Engineer II, Flight Test (R6222) posted Oct 10
- Engineer II, Software Test and Automation (R6221) posted Oct 10
- Engineer I, Flight Test (R6219) posted Oct 10
- Engineer II, Software - Factory (R6217) posted Oct 10
- Engineer I, Software Test and Automation (R6216) posted Oct 10
- Engineer I, Software Integration (R6214) posted Oct 9
- Staff Engineer, HMS DevOps/DevEx (R6196) posted Oct 8
- Engineer I, Simulation Framework (R6203) posted Oct 7
- Engineer II, Integration (R6202) posted Oct 7
- Engineer II, Simulation Framework (R6204) posted Oct 7
- Senior Engineer, HMS Simulation Framework (R6058) posted Sep 24
- Senior Engineer, System Integration Test (R6086) posted Sep 24
- Staff Engineer, Flight Test (R6064) posted Sep 24
- Staff Engineer, System Test Network (R6030) posted Sep 24
- Staff Engineer, Integration (R6009) posted Sep 23
- Senior Staff Engineer, Test Director (R5446) posted Sep 14
- Senior Staff Engineer, Systems Integration (R5415) posted Sep 4
- Senior Engineer, Platform Infrastructure (R5516) posted Aug 4
- Senior Engineer, Software Integration (R5462) posted Aug 3
- Staff Engineer, GenAI Tooling & DevEx (R5469) posted Jul 31
- Manager, Software Test & Automation (R5461) posted Jul 22
- Staff Engineer, AI Factory (R5276) posted Jul 1
- Senior Engineer, Autonomy Software Integration & Test (R5225) posted Jun 12
- Director, Test Engineering - ACP Programs posted May 23
- Engineer II, Systems Test (R5038) posted May 23
- Senior Engineer, Systems Test (R5038) posted May 23
From the team and dates on Shield AI's own job board.
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