Range Operations Officer (R6193) at Shield AI in Wichita, KS

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.

Job Description:

The Range Operations Officer supports the daily operation, readiness, and sustainment of Shield AI’s flight-test ranges . The role ensures that range, facilities, equipment, consumables, access controls, required notifications, and operational records are prepared and maintained for safe range operations.

Reporting to the Range Operations Manager, the Officer performs day-to-day range support and site-readiness activities. The role does not hold flight-release, airworthiness, test-director, or airport-authority responsibility. It escalates operational issues, safety concerns, resource constraints, and external coordination needs to the Range Operations Manager.

What you'll do:

• Open, inspect, configure, and close the range for scheduled test activity; maintain daily readiness, operating, and closeout logs.

• ·Verify that required NOTAMs, airport coordination, site access, weather information, safety equipment, emergency contacts, exclusion-zone controls, and operational signage are in place before testing.

• Coordinate routine daily requirements with Airport Operations, the Flight Test Director, Maintenance, Engineering, FTI, Security, suppliers, contractors, and visitors.

• Maintain the NOTAM tracker, verify active NOTAM status, retain NOTAM records, and alert the Range Operations Manager of upcoming, missing, conflicting, or expired NOTAMs.

• Monitor and maintain readiness of range vehicles, fuel , POL, consumables, towing/recovery equipment, radios, and assigned ground-support equipment; identify shortfalls and coordinate replenishment or repair before they affect planned operations.

• Coordinate fuel deliveries, vehicle servicing, range-equipment rentals, operational vendors, and contractor support required for scheduled flight-test activity; maintain status of orders, deliveries, and open operational issues.

• Conduct routine inspections of the test areas/facilities, hangar, access roads, fencing, gates, signage, lighting, storage areas, utilities, GSE, and operational support equipment; document discrepancies and track corrective actions.

• Support test-day briefs by confirming range status, weather, personnel access, emergency readiness, communications, and changes affecting the planned operation.

• Maintain range maps, emergency contact lists, site layouts, equipment inventories, supplier lists, service records, inspection records, and controlled operational templates.

• Serve as Range Safety Officer (RSO) under delegated authority from the Range Operations Manager when required.

• ·upport emergency-response readiness through equipment checks, contact-list verification, responder access coordination, and maintenance of recovery/spill-response resources.

• During an event, support the Range Operations Manager, Flight Test Director, and responding agencies with access control, personnel accountability, event logging, documentation, and resource coordination.

• Identify recurring operational issues and recommend practical improvements to site readiness, facilities, inventory levels, procedures, vendor support, and test-day efficiency.

• Daily range-operations positions commonly include readiness inspections, safety/access control, operational documentation, equipment issue and tracking, weather communication, range opening/closing, and emergency-response support; aviation operations Officers similarly coordinate the services, resources, documentation, and external stakeholders needed for safe operations.

Required qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in aviation operations, airport operations, flight test, UAS operations, military range operations, maintenance operations, logistics, or a comparable high-tempo technical environment.

• Working knowledge of aviation safety, airfield operations, weather, NOTAM coordination, aircraft ground operations, hazardous-material awareness, and operational documentation.

• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing test-day requirements, communicate clearly by radio and phone, and maintain disciplined records.

• Comfortable working outdoors around aircraft, fuel, GSE, high-noise operations, contractors, and changing weather conditions.

• Valid driver’s license and ability to operate site vehicles, trailers, and approved GSE after training.

• Ability to obtain airport access credentials and pass applicable background/security requirements.

• Willingness to support nonstandard hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and time-sensitive test operations.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience supporting flight-test, UAS, VTOL, military, aerospace, or airport operations.

• Familiarity with FAA NOTAM processes, airport operating procedures, and airside vehicle/access controls.

• Experience with fuel and hazardous-material handling, spill-response readiness, inventory control, vendor management, and contractor coordination.

• Current or prior training in OSHA 10/30, HAZWOPER awareness, first aid/CPR/AED, fire-extinguisher use, incident command system, or airfield-driver safety.

• Experience with Excel-based trackers, asset/inventory systems, maintenance/work-order tools, document control, and operational readiness checklists.

Success measures:

• All planned tests begin with completed range-readiness checks, current required notifications, required access controls, and no preventable site-readiness delay.

• Fuel, consumables, safety equipment, emergency supplies, and operational equipment remain available, inspected, and within defined reorder limits.

• NOTAMs, range logs, inspections, visitor records, and corrective-action trackers are current and audit-ready.

• Safety, facility, access, and vendor issues are identified early, communicated clearly, and closed on schedule.

• The Range Operations Manager receives a concise daily status update covering test readiness, open actions, upcoming coordination needs, inventory concerns, and escalations.

• The Flight Test Range Operations Officer is a hands-on, highly organized role for someone who enjoys turning complex flight-test requirements into an orderly, safe, and ready-to-operate test environment. The successful candidate will be the day-to-day operational backbone of the Newton range, enabling the Range Operations Manager and flight-test team to focus on safe, disciplined execution of advanced aviation programs.

#LI-JM1

#LB

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.