Engineer, Autonomous Systems Integration (R6266)

The role

You will be a senior technical lead for integrating Hivemind autonomy software with unmanned aircraft, robotic systems and related hardware. The work covers integration, test readiness, troubleshooting and demonstrations across engineering, test, product and operations teams.

What you will do

• Serve as a senior technical focal point for Hivemind integration and test readiness across unmanned aircraft, robotic systems and test hardware.
• Lead hands-on integration and troubleshooting across autonomy software, hardware, flight controllers, communications, networking and field operations.
• Evaluate new platforms and advise on their suitability for development, testing, training and demonstrations.
• Lead technical preparation for test events and customer demonstrations that use representative hardware.
• Take systems from benchtop integration through representative test, field execution and demonstrations.
• Provide senior technical judgment on platform suitability, integration complexity, risk, safety, cost and customer value.
• Support test planning and execution across simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, live-vehicle and flight-test environments.
• Define readiness criteria, test expectations and handoff points for representative hardware.
• Diagnose complex cross-disciplinary issues and route them to the right stakeholders.
• Mentor engineers and operators on systems integration, field troubleshooting and test discipline.

Required qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in UxS or UAS systems integration, robotics hardware integration, autonomy test operations, flight test, field engineering, embedded systems or similar hands-on roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex integration efforts across hardware, software, autonomy, networking and communications.
• Practical experience bringing up, configuring and troubleshooting unmanned systems, onboard compute, flight controllers, radios, sensors and ground stations.
• Working knowledge of Linux, embedded systems, networking, data collection, logs, services and field diagnostics.
• Experience with flight-control ecosystems such as PX4, ArduPilot, MAVLink, Pixhawk/Cube-class controllers, QGroundControl or Mission Planner, or equivalent systems.
• Experience supporting testing across simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, live-vehicle, field or flight-test environments.
• Ability to develop and communicate test plans, readiness criteria and post-test findings to cross-functional audiences.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and debugging skills across ambiguous, cross-disciplinary issues.
• Ability to lead through influence across engineering, test, product, operations and customer-facing teams.
• Familiarity with scripting or data-analysis workflows using Python, Bash, MATLAB or similar tools.
• Ability to comply with export-control, safety, security, customer-site and mission-specific operating requirements.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Nice to have

• Experience with Hivemind, autonomy SDKs, autonomous aircraft systems, robotics middleware, simulation infrastructure or edge-deployed autonomy software.
• Hands-on experience with NVIDIA Jetson, embedded Linux, systemd services, containerized deployment and field update workflows.
• Experience with RF/radio setup, mesh networking, tactical datalinks, software-defined radios or communications-degraded test scenarios.
• Experience supporting flight test, range operations, customer trials or complex demonstrations.
• Experience integrating EO/IR cameras, gimbals, lidar, GPS/GNSS, IMUs, payloads or perception sensors.
• Experience with test automation, regression frameworks, data validation or CI/CD-integrated test workflows.
• Familiarity with C++ for debugging, interface review or collaboration with software teams.
• FAA Part 107, private pilot license, military UAS, aviation maintenance, flight-test or range-safety experience.
• Experience defining reference configurations, hardware baselines or setup guidance.
• Active Secret clearance or higher.

Benefits

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

Before you apply

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• 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.