Manager of Engineering - Autonomous Pilot Integration (R5153)

The role

Lead a small-to-mid-sized team of autonomy engineers building and integrating autonomy software for launched effects platforms, from software-in-the-loop through live test exercises. You will also grow the team through hiring and mentoring, and stay technically active.

What you will do

• Manage a team of about 3-8 engineers, owning performance, growth, leveling and delivery
• Drive hiring for your area, run interviews and close strong candidates
• Mentor engineers through hard technical problems and give direct technical feedback
• Develop and integrate autonomy software onto launched effects platforms, including autopilot integration and fleet-scale deployment
• Lead a small feature crew or sub-program and set technical direction
• Act as the primary technical interface with partner teams, autopilot vendors, C2 providers and customers, including authoring interface contracts
• Own build, configuration and validation of mission-ready systems for deployments often of 50-150+ units
• Travel to test sites and customer exercises to support live missions and troubleshoot under time pressure
• Diagnose and resolve hardware and software integration issues in lab and field settings
• Own interface contracts with C2 providers and drive compliance with common message and open-systems standards

Required qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or similar, or equivalent practical experience
• Typically 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; 5 years with a Master's; 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent
• At least 2 years of direct people-management experience
• Experience building or growing an engineering team, including interviewing, hiring and onboarding
• Track record of mentoring engineers and growing their technical skill and career
• Experience leading a small technical team or owning a major capability from design through field delivery
• Experience authoring or negotiating interface contracts or ICDs
• Direct experience with launched effects, loitering munitions, expendable autonomous systems or comparable small unmanned platforms
• Experience with multi-agent, swarm or fleet-scale autonomy
• Strong proficiency in C++, including 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 such as DDS

Nice to have

• Direct experience with PX4 and/or ArduPilot at platform integration level
• Experience with QGroundControl or other Qt-based ground control stations
• Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation and analysis
• Experience leading a feature crew, sub-program or small team in unmanned systems
• Experience growing engineers from mid-level into senior IC or supporting promotion decisions
• Experience with air-gapped, disconnected or constrained fleet-scale deployment
• Familiarity with tactical edge C2 such as TAK and CoT
• Experience working with embedded contractor engineers, FFRDC partners or customer-funded staff augmentation
• Experience supporting international defense customer programs (FMS or direct commercial sales)
• Experience owning customer- or partner-facing technical relationships

Benefits

• Bonus
• Benefits package
• Equity
• Temporary employees receive a temporary benefits package after 60 days of employment
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits

Before you apply

• Offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance is required
• Compensation may vary with skill set, experience, licenses, 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.