Founded in 2015, 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 and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. 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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.ย
Job Description:
The Senior Air Vehicle Operator (AVO) - Deployment Operationsย is responsible forย executing and leading V-BAT flight operations in support of DoD and foreign customers in both land-based and maritime OCONUS environments. This is an operationally focused role requiring strong aviation judgment, disciplined execution, and the ability to lead small teams in austere and high-visibility conditions.ย
ย
The Senior AVOย is responsible forย leading mission planning activities, performing comprehensive risk assessments, delivering pre-mission briefings, executing flight operations, and conducting structured post-flight debriefs.ย This role includes conducting Functional Check Flights (FCFs) and system validation asย required, ensuringย aircraftย configuration control and logbook accuracy, coordinating with maintenance to sustain fleet readiness, and supporting overall operational discipline. The Senior AVO will mentor junior operators, serve as the on-site operational representative to customers, and travel extensively in support of deployments.ย
ย
This is not an entry-level flight operations role. The ideal candidate brings strong aviation fundamentals, disciplined cockpit habits, and mature operational decision-making. They must be comfortable leading deployments, briefing customers, managing risk in dynamic environments, andย maintainingย professionalism in high-visibility settings. The Senior AVO must balance mission execution with customer satisfaction while upholding the highest standards of safety, compliance, and operational excellence.ย
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum ofย 2000 documentedย unmannedย flight hoursย orย 1000ย mannedย flight hoursย
- Demonstrated instructor experience (mannedย or unmanned aviation)ย ย
- FAA Private Pilot License (PPL)ย ย
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificateย
- Ability to obtain andย maintainย an FAA Class II Medical Certificateย
- Ability to obtain and hold a Secret DoD security clearanceย
- Ability to pass background, drug screening, and customer-required medical/dental screeningsย
- Willingness to travel up to 50-75% in support of deploymentsย
- Ability to lead andย operateย independently in small teams under austere conditionsย
- Strong aviation judgment, decision-making, and risk management skillsย
Preferred Qualifications
- FAA Instrument Rating and/or Commercial Pilot Licenseย ย
- Experienceย operatingย as aircrew onย mannedย aircraftย ย
- Prior military service, particularly with overseas or deployed operationsย ย
- Maritime or shipboard UAS operational experienceย ย
- Previousย experience as a Site Lead or in a leadership role overseeing aviation operationsย ย ย
$98,000 - $155,000 a year
#LI-JM1
#LD
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
ย
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
ย
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.
ย
###
ย
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed toย 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.ย
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
apply for this job