Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration – Expeditionary (R5208)

The role

You will lead the technical delivery of autonomy capabilities for V-BAT and X-BAT unmanned aircraft, from architecture through field deployment. You will work as a primary technical partner to the Aircraft team and mentor engineers across the Expeditionary portfolio.

What you will do

• Lead technical execution of complex autonomy capabilities from architecture through field deployment.
• Drive integration of mission autonomy, payloads, flight-control interfaces, executive autonomy and multi-agent behaviors onto V-BAT and X-BAT.
• Serve as primary technical partner to the Aircraft team on integration approaches and interface issues.
• Lead cross-team work across Aircraft, Autonomy Capabilities, Perception, GCS, Strategic Systems (ACP) and feature crews.
• Influence architecture, interface design and integration strategy across subsystems.
• Lead design reviews, contribute to ICDs, mentor engineers and improve engineering rigor.
• Drive mission readiness while supporting flight tests, customer demonstrations and operational deployments.
• Improve integration workflows, testing infrastructure and engineering productivity.
• Drive implementation of GCS and C2 interfaces using common open-systems standards.

Required qualifications

• BS/MS in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Expert C++ and Linux development experience.
• Experience leading complex autonomy or embedded software integration efforts.
• Experience influencing technical direction across multiple engineering teams.
• Experience supporting operational test events or customer deployments.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

Nice to have

• Experience with Group 3 UAS or VTOL aircraft.
• Experience with custom autopilot integration.
• EO/IR or ViDAR integration.
• Long-endurance ISR missions.
• Docker, ARM embedded systems and CI/CD experience.
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical initiatives.

Benefits

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

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.