Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration (R5208)

The role

You will write new autonomy software for unmanned platforms, including mission behaviors, platform control, and multi-agent coordination. You will own the work from simulation through hardware and live field tests, and lead a small feature crew or sub-program.

What you will do

• Develop and integrate autonomy software onto unmanned platforms (air, maritime, space, or effects/expendables).
• Lead a small feature crew or sub-program through design, development and delivery.
• Act as the primary technical interface with the Autonomy Capabilities and Perception teams and external partners.
• Mentor mid-level engineers and formally onboard senior new hires.
• Drive design reviews, ICDs and post-mortems for your area.
• Own the build, configuration and validation process for mission-ready systems.
• Travel to test sites and support live mission operations, including safety checks and troubleshooting.
• Diagnose and resolve integration issues across autonomy stacks, payload computers and embedded systems.
• Own interface contracts with C2 providers and drive standards compliance (e.g., A-GRA, UCI, OMS).
• Interview candidates and help define the skills bar for open roles.

Required qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or similar, or equivalent practical experience.
• Typically 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 5 years with a Master's; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
• Proficiency in C++, with experience on real-time or latency-sensitive systems.
• Proficiency in Linux-based development, embedded systems, shell scripting and system diagnostics.
• Familiarity with middleware, pub-sub or IPC frameworks (e.g., DDS, message buses).
• Hands-on experience supporting demos, exercises, or field/mission tests for unmanned or autonomous systems.
• Experience with autonomy simulation environments for testing and validation.
• Demonstrated experience leading a small technical team or owning a major capability from design through field delivery.
• Track record of mentoring engineers and growing technical talent.
• Experience authoring or negotiating interface contracts or ICDs.
• Strong problem-solving skills across the full stack.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills in a multidisciplinary environment.

Nice to have

• Direct experience supporting unmanned systems or similar field test campaigns.
• Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation and analysis.
• Experience leading a feature crew, sub-program or small team in an unmanned systems context.
• Experience owning customer- or partner-facing technical relationships (autopilot vendors, C2 providers, government program offices).
• Track record of cross-team improvements in process, rigor, documentation or developer experience.
• Familiarity with autonomy stacks, motion planning or vehicle-control integration.
• Competence in vehicle electronics bring-up, payload computer integration or hardware-in-the-loop debugging.
• Experience with container orchestration (e.g., k3s, k3d, Docker) on embedded or payload compute.
• Familiarity with platform control or autopilot stacks (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot).
• Build-system experience (e.g., Conan, CMake) and CI/CD pipeline familiarity.

Benefits

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

Before you apply

• All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance is required.
• 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.