Lead Software Engineer, Hardware Test (R4450) at Shield AI

What you'll do:

• Own the technical architecture for hardware test software, including drivers, frameworks, and shared libraries used across multiple aircraft programs and test environments.
• Design, develop, and maintain Python-based software that interfaces with PCBAs, avionics, sensors, power systems, motors, and automated test equipment.
• Lead the design and implementation of scalable automated test frameworks, ensuring reliability, determinism, traceability, and long-term maintainability.
• Set standards and best practices for test software development, including code structure, documentation, testability, observability, and error handling.
• Build and evolve CI/CD pipelines that support continuous integration, automated validation, and reliable deployment of test stand software.
• Develop and maintain test infrastructure (both software and system-level), enabling rapid provisioning, configuration management, and repeatable deployments across labs and programs.
• Integrate system monitoring and data visualization solutions (e.g., metrics collection, dashboards, logging pipelines) to support test execution, debugging, and post-test analysis.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship through design reviews, code reviews, and architectural guidance, raising the overall engineering bar of the team.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with hardware, systems, manufacturing, and QA teams to ensure test capabilities align with broader aircraft validation and production workflows.
• Drive execution and accountability, owning outcomes from concept through deployment and operational support of test systems.
• Other duties as assigned, consistent with a technical leadership role.

Required qualifications:

• B.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Advanced proficiency in Python, including experience designing large, maintainable codebases.
• Strong background in Linux-based development, including Bash scripting, system services, and networking fundamentals.
• Demonstrated experience leading or owning complex software systems, beyond isolated features or tasks.
• Proven ability to architect systems that balance scalability, reliability, and developer ergonomics.
• Experience working closely with hardware teams and interfacing software with physical systems.
• Track record of technical ownership, delivering high-impact results and holding yourself and others to high engineering standards.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to influence technical direction across teams.

Preferred qualifications:

• Comfort working directly with hardware test environments involving circuit boards, power supplies, electronic loads, motors, and sensors.
• Experience developing drivers or control software for lab or manufacturing test equipment.
• Familiarity with CI/CD systems, infrastructure automation, and configuration management for test environments.
• Working knowledge of electrical engineering fundamentals, physics, and applied mathematics as they relate to hardware validation.
• Experience designing observability systems for test infrastructure (metrics, logging, visualization, alerting).
• Demonstrated adaptability and ability to operate effectively under evolving requirements and aggressive timelines.
• Prior experience in a technical lead or staff-level role supporting multiple stakeholders or programs.