a16z Staff Engineer, Field Support - X-BAT Aircraft Systems (R5081)
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:
The Field Support Engineer, X-BAT Aircraft Systems is a senior, customer-facing technical authority supporting Shield AI's X-BAT program, an AI-piloted VTOL fighter advancing runway-independent autonomous airpower for expeditionary, maritime, and contested environments. This role sustains readiness by resolving aircraft, mission system, avionics, propulsion, launch/recovery, ground support, and configuration issues across test, demonstration, deployment, and field operations.
The ideal candidate is a proven aircraft or UAS maintainer who can operate independently, communicate under pressure, and move technical issues from field discovery through disciplined closure using engineering data, product definition information, and structured support workflows.
What you'll do:
X-BAT Aircraft & Field Technical Support
- Serve as the technical interface for X-BAT aircraft systems, mission equipment, launch/recovery equipment, ground support equipment, and fielded configurations
- Diagnose avionics, mission system, propulsion, electrical, datalink/communications, software/configuration, autonomy-supporting subsystem, and system-level discrepancies
- Use logs, fault codes, BIT data, schematics, drawings, technical manuals, product-definition data, and maintainer/operator debriefs to isolate root cause and recommend corrective actions
- Assess technical risk, restore readiness safely, and document recurring issues for escalation, trend analysis, and product improvement
Customer, Test & Operational Support
- Provide mission-focused support to operators, maintainers, Field Service Representatives, customer leadership, and internal stakeholders during tests, demonstrations, training, deployments, and fielding activities
- Communicate issue status, risk, ownership, and next steps clearly while maintaining traceable case and action status in support and engineering workflow systems such as Salesforce, Jira, or comparable platforms
- Travel or deploy as required to support CONUS/OCONUS, maritime, austere, or non-standard schedule operations
Engineering & Fleet Readiness
- Partner with Engineering, Product, Manufacturing, Quality, Logistics, and Program teams to investigate field issues and validate corrective actions
- Use model-based design data, aircraft configuration information, and CAD/product-definition tools, including Siemens NX where applicable, to support troubleshooting and technical dispositions
- Improve troubleshooting guides, maintenance procedures, service bulletins, training materials, and knowledge-base content while monitoring trends and configuration changes
What success looks like:
- X-BAT aircraft and system-level issues are resolved quickly, safely, and with minimal operational disruption
- Customers and maintainers view Field Support as responsive, technically credible, and mission-aligned
- Engineering receives actionable field data that reduces recurring issues and improves product supportability
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in STEM, aerospace, engineering, aviation technology, aviation maintenance, aviation management, or related technical discipline and 8+ years of directly applicable experience; OR master's degree and 6+ years; OR associate/technical certification and 10+ years; OR high school diploma/GED and 12+ years in lieu of degree
- Hands-on aircraft/UAS maintenance or sustainment experience such as military avionics technician, aircraft crew chief, aircraft/UAS maintainer, A&P mechanic, Field Service Engineer/Representative, depot technician, or flight-line troubleshooter
- Advanced troubleshooting and fault isolation across aircraft, avionics, mission systems, electrical/mechanical, propulsion, ground support equipment, or system-level issues
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, schematics, technical manuals, maintenance procedures, fault-isolation data, configuration documentation, and product definition information
- Strong customer-facing communication skills and ability to make sound technical judgments in high-tempo, ambiguous, developmental, or austere environments
- Ability to document, prioritize, and drive technical issues through closure using structured case management, corrective action, or engineering issue-tracking workflows
- Ability to travel domestically/internationally, deploy with customers, support non-standard schedules, pass required screenings, and obtain and maintain Secret DoD clearance and customer/program access as required
Preferred qualifications:
- Military aviation maintenance experience supporting fighter aircraft, Group 3-5 UAS, autonomous aircraft, ISR aircraft, developmental flight test, or other advanced military aviation systems
- Experience with VTOL aircraft, launch/recovery systems, avionics/mission systems, CNI/datalinks, GPS/INS, flight controls/autopilot, electrical power, propulsion, payloads, ground control systems, or ground support equipment
- Working familiarity with Siemens NX or comparable CAD/product-definition environments used to review assemblies, interfaces, configuration details, drawings, and technical dispositions
- Experience managing technical support actions, customer cases, corrective actions, or engineering investigations through Salesforce, Jira, or comparable CRM and issue-management platforms
- Prior Field Support Engineer, Field Service Representative, military customer support, depot, deployed sustainment, or new aircraft fielding experience
- FAA A&P, FAA Part 107, pilot rating, NCATT/AET, FCC, military aviation maintenance qualification, or active DoD clearance/program access
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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.