a16z Staff Engineer, Operational Safety Specialist (R5306)
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 Operational Safety Specialist plays a central role in strengthening both proactive and reactive safety programs across Shield AI’s flight operations and ground environments. This position focuses on the execution and continuous improvement of auditing, safety metrics, investigations, and safety promotion activities spanning multiple aircraft programs. The role is instrumental in preparing Shield AI’s safety programs for global scale and growth.
You will work closely with Flight Safety, Ground Operations, Airworthiness, Engineering, EH&S, and Program teams to ensure operational hazards are identified early, tracked effectively, and addressed through closure. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; is detail-oriented; and brings strong analytical and communication skills to support the development of a world-class safety culture.
What you'll do:
- Conduct audits of ground procedures and operational practices across the enterprise to ensure compliance, identify gaps, and drive corrective actions.
- Develop, maintain, and report leading and lagging safety metrics to drive transparency and continuous improvement.
- Own and manage the Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) process, ensuring findings are logged, analyzed, assigned, and closed on schedule.
- Lead the Safety Promotions program, including communications, awareness campaigns, and training touchpoints.
- Lead medium- and lower-priority mishap and near-miss investigations, ensuring proper root cause analysis, documentation, and follow-through.
- Maintain the Operational Risk Registry for the V-BAT platform and coordinate with engineering and operational stakeholders to ensure risks are properly assessed and updated.
- Collaborate with Airworthiness and System Safety teams to align operational and engineering safety efforts.
- Contribute to cross-functional safety reviews, readiness assessments, and operational approval activities.
- Support customer reporting obligations and engagements related to operational safety performance.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, safety, aviation, or related discipline (or equivalent operational experience).
- 3–5+ years of experience in aviation safety, flight or ground operations, UAS operations, or safety management systems.
- Familiarity with SMS principles, operational audits, and mishap investigation processes.
- Ability to work effectively across diverse operational environments with multiple stakeholders.
- Strong analytical skills and proficiency with safety or quality tracking systems.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly in producing investigation reports and safety summaries.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience supporting UAS flight operations or military/rapid-deployment aviation environments.
- Experience developing safety promotion or training materials.
- Familiarity with risk management frameworks and operational assurance tools.
- Formal training in mishap investigation methodologies (HFACS, TapRooT, RCA).
- Experience with safety data analysis or safety‑related software tools.
- Demonstrated field experience supporting flightline or mission operations.
#LI-JM1
#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.
###
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.