Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration – Emerging Domains (R5401)

The role

This Staff Software Engineer will lead the technical delivery of autonomy capabilities for new platforms in Emerging Domains, including space, maritime and contested logistics. The role owns integration efforts from software-in-the-loop to live test exercises and works with platform teams to move early R&D into operational capabilities.

What you will do

• Lead technical efforts to establish autonomy on new platforms
• Lead development and integration of autonomy software across emerging-domain platforms
• Lead feature crews or major integration efforts and mentor engineers
• Serve as primary technical partner to platform engineering teams
• Lead design reviews, architecture discussions and ICD development
• Drive validation, release readiness and mission preparation for deployments
• Provide technical leadership during live testing and demonstrations
• Lead root-cause analysis across autonomy stacks, embedded systems and platform interfaces
• Improve engineering processes, testing infrastructure and integration workflows
• Drive implementation of command-and-control interfaces and interoperability standards

Required qualifications

• BS/MS in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent practical experience
• Typically 7+ years of relevant experience
• Expert C++ and Linux development experience
• Experience leading complex autonomy or systems integration efforts
• Experience influencing technical direction across engineering teams
• Experience operating in ambiguous or rapidly evolving technical environments
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance

Nice to have

• Experience standing up autonomy on new platforms
• Experience with autonomous aircraft, maritime or space systems
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical initiatives
• Experience with military test events or customer deployments
• Experience with UCI, OMS, STANAG 4586 or comparable interoperability standards

Benefits

• Bonus
• Benefits
• Equity
• Temporary benefits package for temporary employees, applicable after 60 days of employment

Before you apply

• 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.