Senior Staff Software Engineer (Autonomous Pilot Integration)

Join Shield AI as a Senior Staff Software Engineer in the Autonomous Pilot Integration team. In this hands-on role, you'll develop and integrate autonomy software solutions for unmanned platforms across various domains, including air, maritime, and space. You'll set the technical direction for multiple programs, collaborate with cross-functional teams, mentor senior engineers, and support live mission operations. This position offers excellent benefits, including medical coverage, paid parental leave, and competitive compensation.

About Shield AI

• Mentorer les ingénieurs seniors et les autres chefs d'équipe, fournir un mentorat interfonctionnel aux ingénieurs dans les départements adjacents.
• Track record as the subject-matter expert sought across engineering on hard, ambiguous problems in unknown solution spaces in your discipline

Responsibilities

• Développer et intégrer des solutions logicielles d'autonomie sur des plateformes sans pilote, en possédant la direction technique à travers un ensemble de programmes liés.
• Définir la direction technique à travers plusieurs programmes, en conduisant l'implémentation de référence de l'autonomie et les modèles communs adoptés par les portefeuilles.
• Experience with autonomy simulation environments for testing and validation
• Hands-on experience supporting demos, exercises, or field/mission tests for unmanned or autonomous systems
• Track record of setting forward-looking technical strategy and adjusting course as programs and priorities evolve
• Experience shaping architecture decisions, interface contracts, and standards across multiple teams
• Direct experience supporting unmanned systems (air, maritime, space, ground, or effects/expendables) or similar field test campaigns
• Experience leading multiple programs or driving cross-program technical initiatives in an unmanned systems context
• Experience interfacing with customers and external stakeholders, representing the company in technical engagements, briefing senior leadership, and presenting to non-technical audiences

Requirements

• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment
• Familiarity with middleware, pub-sub, or IPC frameworks used in autonomy or robotics systems (e.g., DDS, message buses)
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance across the full stack
• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience

Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years and a Master’s degree; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience
• Proficiency in C++, with experience developing or integrating real-time or latency-sensitive systems
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple teams or driving cross-program technical initiatives from concept through fielded delivery
• Proficiency in Linux-based development and experience working with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics
• Track record of mentoring senior engineers and team leads, and shaping the career bar for the discipline

Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation, and analysis

• Track record of improvements that span the broader engineering organization (process, architecture, technical bar, or platform-wide tooling)
• Familiarity with autonomy stacks, motion planning, or vehicle-control integration
• Familiarity with platform control / autopilot stacks (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot, spacecraft flight software, vessel autopilots)
• Build-system experience (e.g., Conan, CMake) and CI/CD pipeline familiarity
• Comfortable interfacing with DoD stakeholders during field events or technical reviews
• Experience with C2 standards such as A-GRA, UCI, or OMS

Preferred

• Competence in vehicle electronics bring-up (avionics, spacecraft buses, or vessel control), payload computer integration, or hardware-in-the-loop debugging
• Experience with container orchestration (e.g., k3s, k3d, Docker) on embedded or payload compute
• Proficiency in developing automation tools for system testing, logging, and data parsing
• Familiarity with government-furnished simulation environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) is a plus

Pay

USD 280,512 - 420,768