Lead Software Engineer, Hardware Test (R4450)

Posted 10 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Dallas, TX
In-Office
128K-192K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.
The Role
Lead the development of automated testing software for aircraft hardware, ensuring reliability and maintaining technical standards while collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Summary Generated by Built In
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 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:
The Lead Software Engineer for the Hardware Test Team is responsible for defining, building, and scaling the software architecture that underpins automated testing of aircraft hardware, avionics, and subsystems. This role combines deep hands-on development with technical leadership, architectural ownership, and cross-functional influence across hardware, systems, and QA organizations.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable designing Python-based test frameworks, interfacing with real hardware, and setting technical direction for a team responsible for mission-critical validation infrastructure.

What you'll do:

  • Own the technical architecture for hardware test software, including drivers, frameworks, and shared libraries used across multiple aircraft programs and test environments.
  • Design, develop, and maintain Python-based software that interfaces with PCBAs, avionics, sensors, power systems, motors, and automated test equipment.
  • Lead the design and implementation of scalable automated test frameworks, ensuring reliability, determinism, traceability, and long-term maintainability.
  • Set standards and best practices for test software development, including code structure, documentation, testability, observability, and error handling.
  • Build and evolve CI/CD pipelines that support continuous integration, automated validation, and reliable deployment of test stand software.
  • Develop and maintain test infrastructure (both software and system-level), enabling rapid provisioning, configuration management, and repeatable deployments across labs and programs.
  • Integrate system monitoring and data visualization solutions (e.g., metrics collection, dashboards, logging pipelines) to support test execution, debugging, and post-test analysis.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship through design reviews, code reviews, and architectural guidance, raising the overall engineering bar of the team.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with hardware, systems, manufacturing, and QA teams to ensure test capabilities align with broader aircraft validation and production workflows.
  • Drive execution and accountability, owning outcomes from concept through deployment and operational support of test systems.
  • Other duties as assigned, consistent with a technical leadership role.

Required qualifications:

  • B.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM field (or equivalent practical experience).
  • Advanced proficiency in Python, including experience designing large, maintainable codebases.
  • Strong background in Linux-based development, including Bash scripting, system services, and networking fundamentals.
  • Demonstrated experience leading or owning complex software systems, beyond isolated features or tasks.
  • Proven ability to architect systems that balance scalability, reliability, and developer ergonomics.
  • Experience working closely with hardware teams and interfacing software with physical systems.
  • Track record of technical ownership, delivering high-impact results and holding yourself and others to high engineering standards.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to influence technical direction across teams.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Comfort working directly with hardware test environments involving circuit boards, power supplies, electronic loads, motors, and sensors.
  • Experience developing drivers or control software for lab or manufacturing test equipment.
  • Familiarity with CI/CD systems, infrastructure automation, and configuration management for test environments.
  • Working knowledge of electrical engineering fundamentals, physics, and applied mathematics as they relate to hardware validation.
  • Experience designing observability systems for test infrastructure (metrics, logging, visualization, alerting).
  • Demonstrated adaptability and ability to operate effectively under evolving requirements and aggressive timelines.
  • Prior experience in a technical lead or staff-level role supporting multiple stakeholders or programs.

#LI-JM2
#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 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. 

Top Skills

Bash
Ci/Cd
Linux
Python
Am I A Good Fit?
beta
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

The Company
HQ: Port Melbourne, Victoria
0 Employees
Year Founded: 2015

What We Do

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 offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.

Why Work With Us

What makes Shield AI special is our people. We unlock the power of autonomy, and in the face of overwhelming odds and challenges, we find ways to win and make a difference for our customers. We bring together software, AI, and aerospace engineering disciplines to deploy the most intelligent aviation capabilities in the world.

Gallery

Gallery

Similar Jobs

Mondelēz International Logo Mondelēz International

Senior Hunting Intelligence Analyst

Big Data • Food • Hardware • Machine Learning • Retail • Automation • Manufacturing
Remote or Hybrid
United States
90000 Employees
109K-150K Annually

Ericsson Logo Ericsson

Licensing Manager

Cloud • Information Technology • Internet of Things • Machine Learning • Software • Cybersecurity • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
In-Office
2 Locations
89000 Employees
151K-250K Annually

Pluralsight Logo Pluralsight

VP of Global Professional Services

Edtech • Information Technology • Software
Remote or Hybrid
USA
1300 Employees
196K-245K Annually

Pluralsight Logo Pluralsight

Program Manager

Edtech • Information Technology • Software
Remote or Hybrid
USA
1300 Employees
117K-154K Annually

Similar Companies Hiring

Milestone Systems Thumbnail
Software • Security • Other • Big Data Analytics • Artificial Intelligence • Analytics
Lake Oswego, OR
1500 Employees
Idler Thumbnail
Artificial Intelligence
San Francisco, California
6 Employees
Fairly Even Thumbnail
Software • Sales • Robotics • Other • Hospitality • Hardware
New York, NY

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account