Staff Software Engineer (Autonomous Pilot Integration)

Join Shield AI as a 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 lead a small feature crew or sub-program, collaborate with multiple teams, mentor mid-level engineers, and support live mission operations. This position offers excellent benefits, including medical coverage, paid parental leave, and competitive compensation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and integrate autonomy software solutions onto unmanned platforms, including payload computer bring-up, container-based deployment, and configuration across onboard compute, sensors, and command-and-control interfaces.
• Lead a small feature crew or sub-program; set technical direction, break down work, unblock the team, and report progress to leadership and stakeholders.
• Act as a primary technical interface with the Autonomy Capabilities team, the Perception team, feature crews, and external partners; author and negotiate ICDs and interface contracts.
• Comfortable interfacing with DoD stakeholders during field events or technical reviews
• Competence in vehicle electronics bring-up (avionics, spacecraft buses, or vessel control), payload computer integration, or hardware-in-the-loop debugging

Requirements

Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience
• Familiarity with middleware, pub-sub, or IPC frameworks used in autonomy or robotics systems (e.g., DDS, message buses)
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance across the full stack
• Hands-on experience supporting demos, exercises, or field/mission tests for unmanned or autonomous systems
• Proficiency in Linux-based development and experience working with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics
• Proficiency in C++, with experience developing or integrating real-time or latency-sensitive systems
• Track record of mentoring engineers and growing technical talent
• Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 5 years and a Master’s degree; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience
• Experience authoring or negotiating interface contracts / ICDs with internal or external stakeholders
• Experience with autonomy simulation environments for testing and validation
• Demonstrated experience leading a small technical team or owning a major capability from design through field delivery
• Track record of cross-team improvements (process, rigor, documentation, or developer experience)
• Direct experience supporting unmanned systems (air, maritime, space, ground, or effects/expendables) or similar field test campaigns
• Experience with C2 standards such as A-GRA, UCI, or OMS
• Proficiency in developing automation tools for system testing, logging, and data parsing

Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation, and analysis

• Familiarity with platform control / autopilot stacks (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot, spacecraft flight software, vessel autopilots)
• Experience owning customer- or partner-facing technical relationships (e.g., autopilot vendors, C2 providers, government program offices)

Preferred

• Familiarity with autonomy stacks, motion planning, or vehicle-control integration
• Build-system experience (e.g., Conan, CMake) and CI/CD pipeline familiarity
• Experience with container orchestration (e.g., k3s, k3d, Docker) on embedded or payload compute
• Experience leading a feature crew, sub-program, or small team in an unmanned systems context
• Familiarity with government-furnished simulation environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) is a plus

Pay

USD 234,240 - 351,360