Manager, Field Integration & Test

Job Description:

Shield AI is seeking a highly technical and operationally focused Field Integration & Test Manager to lead maritime and expeditionary integration activities supporting the V-BAT unmanned aircraft system. This role is responsible for managing a multidisciplinary field operations team and overseeing the successful planning, execution, and sustainment of shipboard and land-based integration efforts across customer platforms. The Field Integration & Test Manager serves as the technical authority for field integration operations, providing guidance, mentorship, and escalation support to deployed field teams responsible for RF systems, Network Communications architectures, shipboard installations, and operational system validation. This role is primarily focused on technical leadership, operational oversight, and cross-functional coordination rather than day-to-day field execution. However, the ideal candidate must remain capable of supporting on-site integration, troubleshooting, and customer operations as needed during critical deployments, testing events, or operational escalations. The ideal candidate combines strong leadership skills with deep experience in RF communications, maritime integration, spectrum management, and complex system deployment in operational environments.

What you'll do:

Team Leadership & Technical Oversight

• Lead and manage a field integration team consisting of Field Engineers, Air Vehicle Operators and Field Integration Specialists.
• Serve as the senior technical advisor and escalation point for field integration operations.
• Provide mentorship, technical guidance, and operational support to deployed field teams during installations, troubleshooting, and customer operations.
• Establish integration standards, troubleshooting methodologies, installation procedures, and field best practices.
• Coordinate staffing, deployment readiness, and operational support activities across multiple concurrent integration efforts.
• Drive operational excellence, safety, and technical quality across all field integration activities.

Maritime Integration & Installation Oversight

• Oversee shipboard and land-based integration activities supporting V-BAT deployments on maritime and expeditionary platforms.

• Oversee planning and execution of:

  • Site surveys
  • Shipboard integration assessments
  • Installation planning
  • System commissioning and operational readiness activities

• Provide technical oversight for installation and calibration of various communication systems and associated networking infrastructure

• Review and validate integration plans, antenna layouts, RF configurations, and installation approaches to ensure operational effectiveness and platform compatibility.

• Ensure all installations comply with maritime safety standards, EMI/EMC requirements, and platform-specific operational constraints.

RF Communications & Spectrum Management

• Serve as the subject matter expert for RF communications systems and maritime electromagnetic operating environments.

• Guide field teams in:

  • Link Margin Analysis
  • RF troubleshooting
  • Link testing and optimization
  • Interference mitigation
  • Antenna placement and calibration

• Support system performance analysis and operational readiness validation in complex maritime RF environments.

• Coordinate with engineering teams to identify systemic RF or integration issues and drive corrective actions.

• Provide technical recommendations to improve communications reliability, integration efficiency, and fielded system performance.

System Integration, Test & Verification

• Oversee post-installation checkout, system verification, and operational readiness testing activities.
• Coordinate integration and regression testing efforts with Engineering and System Test.
• Support customer demonstrations, acceptance testing, and operational evaluations.
• Ensure disciplined execution of installation verification, calibration validation, and system readiness procedures.

Customer Engagement & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as the primary technical interface between Shield AI, customers, ship crews, and program stakeholders during integration activities.
• Translate customer operational requirements into executable integration plans and technical solutions.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Flight Operations, System Test, and Program Management teams to resolve integration and operational issues.

Documentation & Process Development

• Ensure accurate documentation of installation configurations, calibration data, RF assessments, test results, and field observations.
• Develop and maintain installation procedures, integration checklists, and operational best practices.
• Standardize field integration workflows to improve scalability, repeatability, and operational efficiency.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related STEM discipline.

• 8+ years of experience supporting field integration, system test, RF systems, maritime operations, or deployed technical operations.

• 3+ years of experience leading technical teams in operational or field environments.

• Strong understanding of RF communications systems, including:

  • S-band
  • C-band
  • SATCOM/BLOS systems
  • Antennas and RF distribution systems

• Experience with:

  • Spectrum analyzers
  • RF Components
  • Link testing
  • EMI/EMC mitigation
  • Networking hardware and communications system

• Strong technical understanding of shipboard integration practices, maritime communications architectures, and operational deployment constraints.

• Ability to lead technical troubleshooting efforts across RF, networking, and system integration domains in operational environments.

• Strong communication and customer-facing skills with the ability to work effectively across engineering, operations, and customer teams.

• Willingness to travel as required to support critical integration events, customer operations, testing activities, and deployment support.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/UAV) or autonomous systems.
• Familiarity with military maritime platforms and naval integration processes.
• Prior experience supporting defense programs or operational military customers.
• Knowledge of shipboard safety standards and maritime integration constraints.
• Experience supporting developmental test, operational test, or flight test activities.
• Active U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one.
• Prior military service, especially within naval, aviation, communications, or electronic warfare fields.