Senior Technician, Unmanned System Test Operator (R5413)

Shield AI

San Diego, California$58,240 - $87,360Full-timePosted 11h ago

Get more Administrative Assistant openings

A short daily email when similar roles appear in San Diego. No account needed.

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 LinkedInXInstagram, and YouTube. 

Job Description:

The HMS UAS Operations Technician is responsible for the execution of surrogate flight test operations supporting the Hivemind portfolio. This role conducts day-to-day flight activities, aircraft preparation, system configuration, field operations, and operational support for autonomy testing.

The HMS UAS Operations Technician serves as the primary operator and technical lead for Group 1/2 UAS test assets, ensuring aircraft, payloads, ground control systems, and supporting equipment are mission-ready and operated in accordance with established procedures, safety requirements, and operational standards.

This position works closely with software, systems, and flight operations teams to support the integration, validation, and operational assessment of autonomy capabilities in laboratory, ground, and flight environments.

What you'll do:

  • Operate flight test platforms in support of daily fly-fix-fly verification activities
  • Serve as a primary operator for Group 1/2 UAS platforms during developmental and operational testing.
  • Configure, inspect, maintain, and troubleshoot aircraft, payloads, autopilot systems, and ground control stations.
  • Coordinate aircraft readiness, pre-flight inspections, launch and recovery operations, and post-flight maintenance activities.
  • Execute operational test procedures and mission plans while ensuring compliance with established safety and operational requirements.
  • Support development, refinement, and enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs), checklists, and operational best practices.
  • Ensure compliance with FAA regulations, airspace requirements, range procedures, and company flight operations standards.
  • Assist in flight planning, airspace coordination, mission scheduling, and operational risk assessments.
  • Required qualifications:

  • 5+ years of experience operating and maintaining Group 1/2 UAS platforms in test, military, commercial, or operational environments.
  • Strong knowledge of COTS UAS hardware, autopilot systems, ground control stations, communications systems, and payload integration.
  • Experience developing, implementing, and executing standard operating procedures (SOPs), checklists, and operational processes.
  • Working knowledge of FAA regulations, National Airspace System (NAS) operations, airspace coordination, and flight authorization requirements.
  • Experience conducting flight operations in dynamic and complex test environments.
  • Strong organizational, communication, and mission planning skills.
  • Ability to coordinate effectively with software, systems, safety, and flight operations personnel.
  • FAA Part 107 certification or equivalent UAS operational experience.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
  • Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience supporting autonomy, AI-enabled systems, or developmental flight test programs, particularly with multi-aircraft or distributed UAS operations.
  • Fabrication experience with design, build of mechanical and electrical systems
  • Familiarity with standard control and autopilot elements such as QGC, Mission Planner, Ardupilot, Px4
  • Military UAS operations or test experience.
  • #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 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. 

    The average job posting receives 250 applications.

    Stand out by tailoring your resume to this specific role. Our AI resume builder highlights the skills and experience that matter most to this employer.

    Frequently asked questions

    Who is hiring for Senior Technician, Unmanned System Test Operator (R5413) at Shield AI?+
    Shield AI is actively hiring for this Senior Technician, Unmanned System Test Operator (R5413) role. Click "Apply Now" to submit your application directly on Shield AI's careers page — Careeronaut doesn't charge employers or candidates for referrals.
    When was this Senior Technician, Unmanned System Test Operator (R5413) role posted?+
    This listing was first posted on 2026-08-05. We pull the latest copy from the source feed daily, and any role that's taken down gets removed from Careeronaut within seven days so you don't waste time on stale listings.
    How should I apply to this Senior Technician, Unmanned System Test Operator (R5413) role?+
    Start by tailoring your resume to the posting — most applicants send generic CVs and the first filter recruiters use is keyword relevance. Careeronaut's AI does this automatically: paste the job description, get a matched resume in under a minute, and download as PDF or DOCX.
    Where can I find more Administrative Assistant jobs in San Diego?+
    Browse all open administrative assistant roles in San Diego on the listing pages linked below. You can filter by salary, remote-friendly, and posting date.