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Staff Engineer, Operational Safety Specialist (R5306)

Dallas, Texas
Full Time On-site

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. 
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. 

About Shield AI

Shield AI

Shield AI is a defense technology company building autonomous AI systems for aircraft, drones, and intelligent mission software used in complex military environments. Founded in 2015, the company is best known for developing Hivemind, an AI pilot system that enables aircraft and drones to operate autonomously in contested and GPS-denied environments, supporting U.S. and allied defense missions.

For job seekers, Shield AI offers opportunities across advanced fields including artificial intelligence, robotics, software engineering, autonomy systems, aerospace engineering, embedded systems, and mission operations. The company is especially attractive to engineers, AI researchers, and defense professionals who want to work on real-world autonomous systems that are actively being deployed in operational military scenarios.

Unlike traditional defense contractors, Shield AI operates with a startup-style engineering culture focused on rapid experimentation, real-world testing, and fast deployment of autonomous capabilities. Employees work on tightly integrated AI and robotics systems that combine perception, decision-making, and control, enabling platforms to operate without direct human input in highly complex environments.

As modern warfare increasingly shifts toward autonomous systems, distributed sensing, and AI-enabled decision-making, Shield AI continues to grow as one of the most prominent companies in next-generation defense technology. For professionals seeking to build cutting-edge autonomy systems with direct mission impact, Shield AI stands out as a leading employer in the defense innovation ecosystem.

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