Staff Software Engineer, Autonomy Capabilities (R5368)

The role

This role designs and builds tactical autonomy software that lets unmanned aircraft carry out complex missions with minimal human supervision. The work covers planning, behavior architecture, and integration with other teams, and includes field testing and flight demos.

What you will do

• Design tactical autonomy algorithms for unmanned aircraft across air, land and sea domains
• Develop high-performance software for planning, decision-making and behavior execution
• Implement and test behavior architectures for multi-agent coordination and contested scenarios
• Blend rule-based autonomy with learning-based methods such as reinforcement learning
• Work with perception, planning, simulation, hardware and flight test teams on integration
• Deploy autonomy to real platforms and take part in field tests and flight demos
• Analyze mission logs and performance data to diagnose failures and refine behavior models
• Research and prototype new algorithms and contribute to the autonomy roadmap
• Adapt autonomy solutions to defense programs, compliance requirements and customer feedback

Required qualifications

• BS, MS or PhD in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• Proficient in production-level C++ software development
• 7+ years' experience in software sub-system scheduling and integration, behavior planning, task and resource allocation, motion planning, optimization or flight controls
• Experience with version control, issue tracking, code reviews and release management tools
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, set technical direction and manage full project lifecycles
• Ability to learn, grow and mentor junior team members
• Desire to work in a highly collaborative, fast paced, mission-centric environment
• Capacity to act as technical owner of an entire software system
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

Nice to have

• Experience across a range of technology readiness levels, bridging research-grade concepts to operationally ready systems
• Experience with mission systems integration and supporting integration events or flight demonstrations
• Experience in collaborative mission planning, automated red vs blue force tactics, motion planning, weapons target assignment, collision avoidance or geofencing
• Experience with more than one operational effect and more than one domain
• Experience with open-source robotics software such as ROS, OMPL or optimization solvers
• Experience with simulation tools such as AFSIM or NGTS
• Familiarity with navigation and communications systems, systems engineering methods, or high-assurance processes such as DO-178C or MIL-STD

Benefits

• Full-time regular employees receive a bonus
• Full-time regular employees receive benefits
• Full-time regular employees receive equity
• Temporary employees receive a temporary benefits package after 60 days of employment

Before you apply

• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. 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.