Software Engineer, Networking & OS (R6362)

The role

This role designs and builds the network infrastructure for V-BAT, an unmanned aerial system used in contested, GNSS-denied airspace. The engineer works on topologies, embedded Linux networking, and communication links, and validates performance with hardware engineers and field operators.

What you will do

• Design and build Layer 2 / Layer 3 network topologies for V-BAT mission profiles.
• Implement networking features on embedded Linux, including custom routing, TUN/TAP interfaces, user-space tunnels and socket-level applications.
• Build bandwidth-optimized, low-latency communication paths over lossy or constrained radio and satellite links.
• Write production-grade C, C++ or Python code for software-defined network interfaces, traffic shaping and link failover.
• Validate end-to-end network performance in hardware-in-the-loop labs and flight tests with software, hardware and field teams.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 5+ years of relevant experience, or Master's with 4+ years, or PhD with 2+ years.
• Strong proficiency in C, C++ or Python in a Linux environment, with shipped software that interacts with the OS networking stack.
• Deep understanding of Linux networking: netlink, IP routes and tables, iptables/nftables, TUN/TAP, network namespaces and socket programming.
• Solid grasp of Layer 2 and Layer 3 fundamentals, custom routing protocols, VLAN tagging, QoS and VPN/tunneling (e.g., OpenVPN, GRE, IPsec or custom tunnels).
• Practical experience troubleshooting network degradation with tcpdump, Wireshark, iproute2 and iperf in lossy, high-latency or bandwidth-constrained environments.
• Proven record of shipping products through development cycles and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to obtain security clearance.

Nice to have

• Experience developing embedded Linux networking applications with build systems such as Yocto or OS-level customization tools.
• Experience working with RF and hardware engineers on network protocols and topologies for a novel radio network.
• Experience architecting network solutions for robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace or edge computing hardware.
• Familiarity with network security, PKI and cryptographic tunnels in embedded systems.

Benefits

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

Before you apply

• Ability to obtain security clearance is required.
• 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.