a16z Engineering Technician 4, Quality Assurance (R5977)
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Summary
A hands-on quality assurance technician supporting XBAT prototype ground and flight testing at defense-tech company Shield AI. Day to day, they inspect mechanical, electrical, structural, and electromechanical hardware, document and contain nonconformances, and work with Quality, Manufacturing, Test, and Design Engineering to verify prototype configurations meet requirements.
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 . Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
This Engineering Technician will support XBAT prototype ground testing and flight testing. This hands-on role will work closely with Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, and Design Engineering to verify hardware quality, identify and investigate issues, and ensure prototype configurations and test articles meet defined requirements.
What you'll do:
- Perform in-process, final, pre-test, and post-test inspections of XBAT prototype hardware.
- Inspect mechanical, electrical, structural, composite, and electromechanical assemblies using appropriate measurement equipment.
- Verify hardware configuration, workmanship, dimensions, torque, installation, and traceability against engineering requirements.
- Support ground and flight test readiness by verifying required inspections and documentation are complete.
- Inspect and document hardware condition following testing, including damage, failures, and abnormal conditions.
- Collect objective evidence such as measurements, photographs, and inspection results to support engineering investigations.
- Identify, document, and contain nonconformances; support MRB, root-cause investigations, and corrective actions.
- Work directly with Quality, Manufacturing, Test, and Design Engineering to resolve prototype quality issues.
- Support development and improvement of inspection plans, checklists, acceptance criteria, and quality processes.
- Maintain accurate inspection, configuration, and quality records for serialized prototype hardware.
- Identify recurring issues and provide feedback to engineering and manufacturing teams to improve product and process quality.
Required qualifications:
- 10+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, manufacturing, aviation, or a related technical field.
- Experience supporting prototype development or flight testing.
- Experience with hands-on inspection, testing, manufacturing, or troubleshooting of complex aerospace hardware.
- Ability to read engineering drawings, specifications, and work instructions.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with UAVs, aircraft, flight hardware, or aerospace structures.
- Experience with GD&T, composites, electrical systems, or electromechanical assemblies.
- Experience with nonconformance, MRB, RCCA, or failure investigation.
- Familiarity with AS9100.
#LD
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.
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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.
Skills
As published by lever · 19 questions · 9 written answers
Basics
Resume/CV, Full name, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company, LinkedIn URL, Twitter URL, GitHub URL, Portfolio URL, Other website
Short answers (1)
- Please state your full legal name:
Pick from a list (9)
- Are you authorized to work in the United States?
- Will you require sponsorship for employment now or in the future?
- This position may require access to information and technology that is subject to export controls, such as EAR. Are you any of the following?
- Shield AI provides technology, services, and support to the United States military and allied forces with their various missions. If selected for employment with Shield AI, your contributions will directly relate to and/or support these missions. Are there any reasons why you would not be able to fully contribute in support of the U.S. military and allied forces?
- How did you hear about us?
- Are you a transitioning service member?
- If yes, what partnership program are you working with? optional
- Are you local to or willing to relocate? optional
- What office(s) would you be willing to relocate to? (Select all that apply) optional
Written answers (9)
- If yes, what type of sponsorship? optional
- If you selected "A protected Individual" OR "Other" to the above question, please explain further. optional
- (Optional) If you selected other or would like to expand on the above, feel free to do so below: optional
- If "Industry Conference" or "Other," please provide more details: optional
- If other, please provide further details optional
- When are you available to start your fellowship? optional
- When are you available for full time work? optional
- What full time job(s) are you applying for?
- If you selected international, what location(s)? optional
