Join a high-impact quality engineering team supporting next-generation autonomous systems deployed in demanding operational environments. This role works closely with engineering, manufacturing, test, and field operations teams to identify product quality issues, drive root cause investigations, and improve system reliability across the product lifecycle. You will serve as a key link between field performance and engineering execution by translating operational issues into measurable product improvements.
We are seeking a Field Quality Engineer with experience supporting complex hardware systems in aerospace, defense, robotics, or related industries, including failure analysis, corrective actions, reliability tracking, and cross-functional problem solving.
What you'll do:
- Investigate field-reported issues and drive root cause analysis across hardware, software, and integrated systems
- Partner with engineering, manufacturing, and test teams to implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)
- Analyze reliability and performance trends to identify systemic quality issues and improve product robustness
- Support validation, troubleshooting, and failure reproduction efforts for fielded systems
- Develop quality metrics, reporting, and tracking tools to improve visibility into field performance and defect trends
- Coordinate issue resolution across cross-functional teams while ensuring timely communication and closure
Required qualifications:
- 5+ years of experience in quality engineering, field engineering, systems integration, manufacturing quality, or related technical roles
- Strong experience with root cause analysis, failure investigation, and corrective action implementation in complex hardware environments
- Ability to diagnose system-level issues across mechanical, electrical, and software interfaces
- Experience analyzing reliability data, defect trends, and operational performance metrics
- Strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to coordinate across engineering and operations teams
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced development and operational environments
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience supporting aerospace, defense, robotics, or autonomous systems programs
- Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or regulated engineering environments
- Experience with environmental testing, system validation, or field operations support
- Experience using data analysis and reporting tools such as Python, SQL, Jira, Power BI, or Tableau
Skills Required
- 5+ years of experience in quality engineering, field engineering, systems integration, manufacturing quality, or related technical roles
- Strong experience with root cause analysis, failure investigation, and corrective action implementation in complex hardware environments
- Ability to diagnose system-level issues across mechanical, electrical, and software interfaces
- Experience analyzing reliability data, defect trends, and operational performance metrics
- Strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to coordinate across engineering and operations teams
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced development and operational environments
- Experience supporting aerospace, defense, robotics, or autonomous systems programs
- Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or regulated engineering environments
- Experience with environmental testing, system validation, or field operations support
- Experience using data analysis and reporting tools such as Python, SQL, Jira, Power BI, or Tableau
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials describe excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage alongside a mental‑health EAP. Site perks such as an onsite gym in DC and a gym discount in San Diego support a health‑focused offering.
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Retirement Support — Careers materials highlight a 401(k) with company match as part of the standard package. A Total Rewards overview emphasizes retirement features within a broader, transparent compensation view.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Compensation for in‑demand technical and senior go‑to‑market roles is described as competitive, with visible engineering ranges and top‑end packages. This points to meaningful upside tied to role, level, and scarce skills.
Shield AI Insights
What We Do
At Shield AI, you won't wait years to see your work reach the field. You'll build hardware and software that operates in the real world right now, in the hands of the people who depend on it. Hivemind, our AI pilot, has been flying since 2018. It has flown more than 30 platforms, including an F-16, and it now sits under a U.S. Air Force production contract for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. When you write code or shape a system here, you contribute to technology with a proven flight record and a clear production future. V-BAT flies intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with an operational record that stretches from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific. It delivers eyes where they matter most, in the most demanding conditions on earth. The teams behind it watch their work get tested where the stakes are real. X-BAT takes its first flight this year. It's an AI-piloted fighter that needs no runway, built to operate where traditional aircraft can't. Join now and you help shape a program at its earliest, most formative stage. That's the kind of ground-floor work that defines a career. Do the most impactful work of your life, on problems that matter. Autonomy at this level asks a lot of you. You'll take on problems in perception, planning, and control that few teams anywhere are equipped to solve. You'll work across disciplines, from aerospace and robotics to machine learning and systems engineering, alongside people who hold themselves to an exacting standard and expect the same from you. Our mission is clear: protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. That purpose runs through every decision, every design review, and every deployment. It's why the work here carries a weight you can feel. Ready to join our mission? Explore our open roles and find where you fit.
Why Work With Us
Founded in 2015 by a former Navy SEAL, Shield AI builds AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft. Veterans aren't an afterthought here, they're at every level. It's why the work carries weight: AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft flying real missions, from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific, protecting service members and civilians.
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Shield AI Teams
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Shield AI Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
