State Estimation Engineer (R4783)

The role

You will help develop and deploy sensor fusion and navigation algorithms for autonomous UAV operations, including in GPS-denied or degraded environments. You will work with autonomy, software and hardware teams and help move research into fielded capabilities.

What you will do

• Develop and implement real-time state estimation algorithms, including inertial navigation and sensor fusion.
• Integrate data from IMUs, GNSS receivers, visual odometry, magnetometers, barometers and radar.
• Design sensor processing pipelines focused on accuracy, robustness and fault tolerance.
• Collaborate with autonomy, software and hardware teams on end-to-end navigation and PNT integration.
• Conduct simulation, lab testing and field trials to evaluate algorithm performance.
• Stay current on state estimation and navigation advances and adapt them into deployable solutions.

Required qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience with a bachelor's degree, or 2 years with a master's degree, or 1 year with a PhD, or equivalent practical experience.
• Familiarity with algorithms.
• Proficient in C++11 or newer in real-time environments.
• Comfortable working in Linux, with command-line tools and scripting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a collaborative mindset.
• Demonstrated success in fast-paced development cycles and delivering high-quality results.

Nice to have

• Experience developing and deploying real-time navigation or sensor fusion algorithms using IMUs, GPS or other sensors.
• Strong understanding of filtering and estimation techniques such as Kalman, EKF, UKF and particle filters.
• Experience with inertial navigation in degraded or GPS-denied conditions.
• Exposure to visual odometry or computer vision-based navigation.
• Experience optimizing code for compute-constrained platforms.
• Familiarity with CUDA or hardware acceleration such as FPGAs.
• Experience transitioning navigation solutions from research into production.

Benefits

• Bonus
• Equity (full-time regular employees)
• Benefits package (full-time regular employees)
• Temporary benefits package (temporary employees, after 60 days of employment)

Before you apply

• Offers are contingent on a cleared background check and possible reference check.
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.
• Contact a talent acquisition representative for more information about offer packages.

About the company

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company that builds intelligent systems to protect service members and civilians. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation technologies.