We are seeking a highly skilled Test Technician to support the fabrication, instrumentation, and testing of X-Bat. This role is ideal for a hands-on builder who thrives in dynamic environments, has deep experience working with test stands, understands precision instrumentation techniques, and has a background in machine shop operations, 3D printing, and product prototyping.
You will be a key contributor in helping bring cutting-edge designs to life, playing a vital role in everything from early-stage prototype development to detailed testing and validation of final assemblies.
What you'll do:
- Construct and assemble large-scale structures and test articles in alignment with engineering drawings and CAD models.
- Support the design, prototyping, and fabrication of new products, R&D initiatives, and flight-ready hardware.
- Maintain accurate records of test equipment configurations and device designations across all projects.
- Work with aerospace-grade materials and perform structural repairs using industry-standard techniques and tools.
- Fabricate fixtures, machine brackets, and execute rapid modifications on prototype hardware as needed.
- Install strain gauges, thermocouples and various sensors according to precise instrumentation schematics.
- Route cabling, integrate data acquisition systems, and verify sensor calibration and operational status.
- Conduct mechanical testing by applying static and dynamic loads per detailed engineering procedures.
- Document test outcomes clearly and report anomalies or irregularities in a timely manner.
- Ensure a clean, organized, and safe workspace across shop, lab, and composite work areas.
- Contribute to ongoing improvements in instrumentation standards, testing procedures, and fabrication workflows.
- Source and manage inventory for parts and equipment needed for component repair or replacement.
Required qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience in fabrication or aerospace-grade instrumentation.
- Strong background in strain gauge installation and sensor wiring.
- Hands-on experience in machine shop operations, including manual and/or CNC tools.
- Ability to read engineering drawings, schematics, and detailed work instructions.
- Comfortable working in shop and lab environments with exposure to noise, dust, and chemicals.
- Ability to lift and move parts and equipment (up to 50 lbs.) and perform physical work for extended periods.
Preferred qualifications:
- Familiarity with mechanical testing systems (e.g., load frames, DAQ systems).
- Experience in aerospace, automotive, defense, or high-performance prototyping environments.
- Knowledge of adhesives, fasteners, and bonding processes for composite-to-metal interfaces.
- Able to work independently and adapt quickly to changing technical needs.
- Hands-on experience performing MIL-STD testing including vibration, shock, thermal testing.
Skills Required
- 3+ years of experience in fabrication or aerospace-grade instrumentation
- Strong experience installing strain gauges and wiring sensors
- Hands-on experience with machine shop operations using manual and/or CNC tools
- Ability to read engineering drawings, schematics, and detailed work instructions
- Ability to work in shop and lab environments with exposure to noise, dust, and chemicals
- Ability to lift and move parts and equipment up to 50 pounds and perform physical work for extended periods
- Familiarity with mechanical testing systems, including load frames and data acquisition systems
- Experience in aerospace, automotive, defense, or high-performance prototyping environments
- Knowledge of adhesives, fasteners, and composite-to-metal bonding processes
- Ability to work independently and adapt quickly to changing technical needs
- Hands-on experience performing MIL-STD vibration, shock, and thermal testing
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials highlight comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with mental-health support and an EAP. Third-party benefits summaries also portray health coverage as a strong component of the package.
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Retirement Support — Offerings include a 401(k) with employer matching, cited on the careers page and independent benefits directories. Multiple sources indicate a match exists, though exact formulas have varied over time and warrant confirmation.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Company communications describe equity for all full-time hires and stock benefits as part of total rewards. Independent listings also note company equity/RSUs as a standard element.
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 Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
