Software Engineering Manager, Hardware Test (X-BAT) (R6020)
Summary
Leads Shield AI's X-BAT Hardware Test Software team in Seattle, managing engineers who build Python-based automated production test stands for avionics and aircraft electrical assemblies, partnering with electrical, mechanical, FPGA, and embedded teams on test frameworks, instrument control, and data-driven failure triage.
About Shield AI
Shield AI develops AI-powered autonomy software and aircraft systems that protect service members and civilians by enabling intelligent operations in contested environments. As part of the X-BAT program, you will help develop and validate next-generation autonomous aircraft and mission-critical hardware that must perform reliably in demanding operational conditions.
Job Description:
Shield AI is seeking a Software Engineering Manager to lead the X-BAT Hardware Test Software team. This team builds and sustains automated production test stands used to functionally test avionics and aircraft electrical assemblies.
You will lead software engineers developing test frameworks, station-control software, equipment interfaces, data collection, and automated pass/fail evaluation. Our systems interact with custom fixtures, instrumentation, embedded devices, FPGA-enabled hardware, and avionics units under test.
The ideal candidate has managed engineering teams and has personally built or led the development of automated hardware test systems used in production, manufacturing, qualification, or other high-consequence environments. You know what robust test automation looks like: safe operation, repeatable results, useful diagnostics, configuration control, traceability, maintainability, and a practical path from prototype to sustained production use.
What You'll do:
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Lead, mentor, and grow a team of software engineers supporting X-BAT avionics production test.
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Own the technical roadmap and execution for automated test stands, reusable test frameworks, station software, and test-data systems.
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Build scalable Python-based software for test sequencing, instrument and fixture control, unit-under-test communication, measurement collection, pass/fail evaluation, and reporting.
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Guide software architecture, code quality, configuration management, CI/CD, release processes, documentation, and operational support.
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Partner closely with electrical engineers to translate avionics interfaces, functional requirements, and failure modes into automated test coverage.
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Partner with mechanical engineers to ensure fixtures, cabling, connectors, serviceability, safety, and operator workflows support reliable production testing.
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Work with FPGA and embedded-software teams to configure, communicate with, and validate FPGA-enabled avionics hardware.
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Improve test coverage, station uptime, throughput, failure triage, test repeatability, and traceability.
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Establish metrics and processes for regression health, station reliability, first-pass yield, retest rate, false failures, and recurring failure modes.
- Support root-cause analysis across the unit under test, fixture, instrumentation, test software, embedded software, FPGA behavior, and electrical interfaces.
Required Qualifications:
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5+ years of experience in software engineering, test automation, embedded systems, hardware-integrated software, manufacturing test, avionics, aerospace, robotics, automotive, industrial systems, or similar fields.
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2+ years of direct people-management experience leading software, test, or hardware-integration engineers.
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Demonstrated experience building, deploying, and sustaining automated functional-test systems for complex hardware.
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Strong Python experience, particularly for automation frameworks, hardware communication, instrument control, data acquisition, and test orchestration.
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Experience with C++ or C in embedded, systems, device-control, or hardware-facing applications.
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Experience working directly with electrical hardware, test fixtures, instrumentation, and devices under test.
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Familiarity with FPGA-enabled hardware and the ability to work effectively with FPGA engineers on system-level test and debug.
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Familiarity with common interfaces and protocols such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, UDP, serial, CAN, SPI, I2C, USB, GPIO, PCIe, or JTAG.
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Experience with Git, code review, automated testing, CI/CD, release management, and configuration control.
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Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively across software, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and program teams.
Preferred Qualifications:
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Experience developing automated production test equipment for avionics, aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, robotics, or other mission-critical hardware.
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Experience designing reusable test frameworks rather than only writing one-off test scripts.
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Experience with programmable power supplies, electronic loads,, DAQ systems, digital I/O, network equipment, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or custom test fixtures.
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Experience with FPGA programming, bitstream management, register-level control, JTAG, board bring-up, or FPGA-adjacent debug.
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Experience with embedded Linux, microcontrollers, board-support packages, device drivers, or real-time systems.
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Experience with production traceability, serial-number tracking, test-result databases, calibration workflows, manufacturing systems, or quality systems.
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Experience in a regulated, safety-critical, mission-critical, or configuration-controlled engineering environment.
Skills
As published by lever · 21 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 (11)
- 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
- Do you have, or are you able to obtain, a S/SAR clearance? optional
- This position requires an Active or the eligibility to obtain a U.S. DoD Secret Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required). 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