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Job description
Job Description:
The Hivemind Solutions Test Department is seeking a Senior Test Engineer (Software & Simulation Focus) to join our DC-based team. Since Shield AI's mission is to protect service members and civilians, The Hivemind Solutions Test Department makes this a reality by validating the reliability, safety, and performance of our world-class autonomy software.
You’ll lead simulation-driven testing, automation, and software quality efforts for Hivemind, building and executing test frameworks that ensure our autonomy software performs reliably across simulated and real-world mission environments.
Shield AI is growing quickly, and we're looking for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, embraces learning, and brings a high-ownership, mission-driven mindset. This is a chance to have a real impact—advancing autonomy that protects lives—while working with a collaborative, high-performing team.
What you'll do
- Develop automated regression, integration, and system-level tests to ensure Hivemind software quality and stability across releases
- Identify, reproduce, and diagnose software issues—collaborating closely with development teams to drive fixes and improvements
- Create and execute test plans and documentation for autonomy software in simulated environments, ensuring mission and safety requirements are met
- Design, implement, and maintain simulation-based test frameworks to validate Hivemind autonomy behavior and performance
- Build tools and utilities in Python to automate testing, data processing, and analysis workflows
- Develop test harnesses and data validation tools for Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) / Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) / Vehicle-in-the-Loop (VIL) and simulation environments
- Contribute to the definition of testing methodologies, metrics, and performance benchmarks for autonomy software validation
- Support the scaling and reliability of simulation infrastructure used for large-scale software validation
- Maintain detailed and accurate test documentation, ensuring traceability and knowledge sharing across teams
- Work with developers to integrate test coverage directly into the development pipeline (CI/CD)
Required qualifications
- Typically requires a minimum of 3-5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 2-4 years and a Master’s degree; or 2 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience
- Proficiency in Python
- Experience in robotics, small UAS, or related hands-on engineering projects
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills
- Passionate about intelligent aircraft systems
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional software, hardware and mechanical engineering teams
- Adaptability and a willingness to learn new technologies and methodologies quickly in a fast-paced environment
- The ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET Clearance. US citizenship is required as only US citizens are eligible for a security clearance.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience testing autonomous systems, robotics software, or flight autonomy algorithms
- Familiarity with C++ and software/hardware integration concepts.
- Experience with HIL or VIL test environments.
- Exposure to machine learning or AI-driven autonomy systems.
- Background in simulation infrastructure design, distributed testing, or test data management.
- Quality Assurance (QA) experience, including process definition, metrics, and validation tracking
- Experience with aerospace, defense, or mission-critical software
- Active SECRET clearance preferred
Role context
This Senior Engineer, Systems Test (R5038) role at Shield AI sits in the engineering track within defense and autonomy. The position is tied to Washington, DC, United States and is posted earlier in the current hiring cycle, which signals active hiring intent rather than archived demand. Compensation is not disclosed in the source listing, so candidates should verify range details directly with the employer. Combined with the live company and role links on this page, this listing gives candidates a direct path to compare equivalent openings by employer, market, and role focus.
Ready for the next step?
Apply directly with Shield Ai
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Washington, DC, United States
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Washington, DC, United States
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Washington, DC, United States
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