Staff Engineer, Mission Systems (R5893)

The role

This senior technical role leads the end-to-end engineering of mission systems on next-gen unmanned aircraft, including payloads, communications, avionics, weapons and support systems. The staff engineer shapes technical direction and oversees integration from concept through flight test and fielding.

What you will do

• Lead system architecture and requirements development and integration for payloads, avionics, and weapons integration
• Serve as technical subject matter expert for mission systems engineering across the aircraft program
• Drive trade studies and system-of-systems analysis to balance performance, cost, and schedule
• Oversee integration and test campaigns, from bench-level hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) to flight test
• Ensure compliance with MIL-HDBK-516C, DO-178C, DO-254, and related standards
• Collaborate with program management to de-risk architectures and ensure technical maturity gates are met
• Interface with customers, partners, and suppliers to align system requirements and certifications

Required qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant aerospace/defense experience, with at least 5 years in mission systems integration
• Demonstrated experience with aircraft payloads, avionics, and/or weapons integration
• Demonstrated experience with line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight aircraft communications systems and components
• Working knowledge of Government modular open system approach (MOSA) standards, including open mission systems (OMS), Government Reference Architectures (GRA) or modular avionics standards
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and deliver complex systems to fielded capability
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering processes and product development lifecycle
• Familiarity with DO-178C/DO-254 certification requirements for software and hardware
• Excellent communication skills and ability to brief technical findings to executives and customers
• Active Secret clearance and ability to obtain a Top-Secret clearance

Nice to have

• Master's or PhD in Aerospace, Systems, or Electrical Engineering
• Hands-on experience with flight test operations and mission system validation
• Direct experience integrating advanced sensors, autonomy, AI-enabled payloads, or guided weapons
• Background in model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and SysML tools
• Strong knowledge of current aircraft mission systems vendors and capabilities
• Active DoD Top Secret clearance

Benefits

• Full-time employees: bonus
• Full-time employees: benefits
• Full-time employees: equity
• Temporary employees: temporary benefits package, applicable after 60 days of employment

Before you apply

• Offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits
• Salary depends on skill set, experience level, licenses and certifications, and work location

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.