Staff Engineer, Aircraft Trajectory Modeling (R5787)

The role

You will lead development and validation of trajectory prediction and aircraft-response models for a safety-critical Run-Time Assurance product. You will work with Python, simulation, HIL and flight-test data, and partner with C/C++ engineers on software that flies, including on X-BAT.

What you will do

• Lead development, tuning and validation of trajectory prediction and recovery-behavior models.
• Build Python analysis, simulation, HIL and flight-test workflows to compare predicted and observed aircraft behavior.
• Integrate and evaluate trajectory prediction through autopilot interfaces, including command modes, latency and control limits.
• Support hardware integration and flight-test campaigns across relevant platforms.
• Help evolve single-aircraft safety behaviors toward multi-agent collaborative concepts of operation.
• Produce algorithm handoff artifacts and contribute scoped C/C++ implementation, testing and debugging.

Required qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 6 years with a Master's degree, or 4 years with a PhD, or equivalent work experience.
• Deep experience in trajectory prediction, aircraft-response modeling, aerospace simulation, robotics, applied autonomy or GNC-adjacent domains, including 3DOF and/or 6DOF modeling.
• Expert-level Python skills for algorithm development, numerical analysis, data processing and test automation.
• Working proficiency in C or C++, including reading production code, debugging and writing tests.
• Demonstrated experience interfacing guidance, trajectory or safety-critical algorithms with autopilots and validating through simulation, HIL, flight hardware or flight-test data.
• Ability to document model assumptions, handoff artifacts and validation evidence while leading technical coordination across teams.

Nice to have

• Experience tuning trajectory prediction or vehicle-response models from simulation, HIL or flight-test telemetry.
• Experience porting algorithms from Python, MATLAB/Simulink or prototypes into C or C++ production software.
• Experience with Monte Carlo testing, scenario-based regression, validation metrics, envelope expansion or flight-test safety reviews.
• Familiarity with high-reliability or safety-critical practices such as static analysis, coding standards, traceability and requirements-based testing.
• Experience with CMake, Conan, Linux, CI/CD, embedded software workflows or production software integration.

Benefits

• Full-time regular employees: bonus, benefits and equity in addition to pay.
• Temporary employees: temporary benefits package applicable after 60 days of employment.

Before you apply

• All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.

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.