Staff Engineer, Autonomy Behaviors

The role

You will develop tactical autonomy software that lets unmanned platforms carry out complex missions across air, land, sea and space with minimal human supervision. You will also act as the technical owner and subject matter expert for software engineering on a multi-stakeholder team.

What you will do

• Develop tactical autonomy software for unmanned platforms across air, land, sea and space
• Implement and test behaviors for multi-agent coordination, target engagement, reconnaissance and survivability
• Work through the full software development lifecycle, from requirements through validation
• Architect behaviors as scalable software subsystems and interface them with other system components
• Collaborate with external teams on interface requirements and with operational subject matter experts
• Act as subject matter expert for software engineering with engineering, business and sales leadership
• Travel up to 20% of the time to co-locate with end-users and other teams

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 collaborative development tools for version control, issue tracking, code reviews and release management
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, set technical direction and manage full project lifecycles
• Capacity to learn and grow individually while mentoring junior team members
• Desire to work in a highly collaborative, fast paced, mission-centric environment
• Capacity to act as technical owner for an entire software system

Nice to have

• Experience across a breadth of technology readiness levels, bridging research-grade to operationally ready
• Experience with mission systems integration, ideally supporting integration events or flight demonstrations

Benefits

• Bonus
• Benefits
• Equity
• For international roles: international premium, hardship differential, cost of living differential, living quarters allowance, foreign service transfer allowance, international benefits, visa assistan
• For temporary U.S. roles: temporary benefits package, applicable after 60 days of employment

Before you apply

• All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check
• Salary depends on skill set, experience, licences and certifications, and work location
• Interns, Military Fellows and part-time roles are not eligible for bonus, benefits or equity

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.