V-BAT Air Vehicle Operator

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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Introduction to the V-BAT

Securing borders, hunting drugs, finding threats. Shield AI’s V-BAT is the future of tactical UAS today. Nothing else in the world like it, V-BAT is the next-generation UAS. In head-to-head customer fly-offs, V-BAT wins. The U.S. and allied militaries are choosing V-BAT because it delivers, period.

The true differentiator between V-BAT and the rest is its patented ducted fan design. V-BAT’s duct increases thrust by 80%+ at equivalent engine power, enabling take-off and landing with a single power plant and achieving unmatched payload mass friction. It can fly for a half day or stop and hover for hours on end. Most importantly, thrust vectoring bestows V-BAT with unmatched control authority for rock-solid stability in high winds and challenging weather – whether taking off, landing, flying forward, or in a transition state.

V-BAT is designed explicitly for runway and equipment-independent launch and recovery in austere environments with no external support. The aircraft can be transported in the bed of a truck and assembled by two personnel in under 20 minutes, making it a true expeditionary system built for dynamic movement and fluid mission sets.

Job Description

V-BAT Air Vehicle Operators (Level 1-5) perform flight operations, testing, training, demonstrations, and maintenance in CONUS and OCONUS environments depending on customer requirements. Candidates must be willing to become proficient in a variety of V-BAT specific AVO skills based on the unique demands of the position for which they are applying.

Six different teams and opportunities you could work for:

• Deployed Operations – AVOs support DoD and foreign customers in an operational capacity during maritime and land-based OCONUS deployments.
• Instructor – AVOs develop and teach programs of instruction based on an institutional and operational knowledge of the V-BAT system and air vehicle operations.
• Training/Standardization and Evaluation – AVOs are responsible for developing and delivering Programs of Instruction (POIs) for the V-BAT system to both internal and external customers. They serve as subject matter experts (SMEs), providing high-quality instruction and ensuring operators are trained to the highest standards of safety, proficiency, and mission effectiveness. This role includes establishing, maintaining, and enforcing standardization across V-BAT flight operations.
• Demo/Business Development – AVOs perform flight demonstrations for potential customers in both CONUS and OCONUS locations.
• Production Flight Testing – AVOs test newly produced V-BAT systems to ensure quality control and fleet readiness.
• Engineering Research & Development – AVOs perform research and development flights and push the boundaries of innovation in the unmanned air vehicle space.
• Support SME – AVOs provide advanced (L2) troubleshooting and support for issues encountered in the field and assist in documenting a robust knowledge base.
• Experimental Flight Testing/R&D – Operators collaborate with engineering teams to execute integration, ground tests, and flight tests, ensuring seamless interactions between various components and systems of the V-BAT UAV platform.

Required Qualifications

• Ability to work independently and lead in a small team environment, often in austere locations, while delighting the customer.
• Ability to pass background check and drug screening in accordance with company policy.
• Ability to pass medical and dental screenings as required by customers.
• Ability to possess a Secret DoD security clearance as required by customers.

Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience with other manned or unmanned systems.
• Prior military service with overseas assignments.
• Maritime/shipboard UAS experience.
• FAA Ratings (Part 107/Private Pilot/Commercial/Instrument/CFI).
• A&P certified.

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,