Senior Autonomy Engineer

Shield; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Autonomy Engineer to join the Hivemind Solutions team in Melbourne, focusing on autonomous capabilities for uncrewed systems. The role blends software development with robotics, perception, and path planning, requiring hands-on engineering experience and leadership.

You’ll work at the intersection of AI, motion planning, and controls, delivering robust autonomy systems and collaborating across AI, robotics, and systems teams.

Qualifications

• Tertiary level qualification in Computer Science, Mechatronics, Software Engineering, Aerospace, Robotics or a related field
• Significant professional experience in robotics, autonomy, perception or aerospace systems
• Strong experience in modern C++
• Significant experience in building and delivering reliable software systems, ideally in fast-paced environments

Responsibilities

• Design and implement autonomous behaviours for uncrewed aircraft
• Work with real sensor data and build robust sensor fusion solutions
• Develop and test autonomy systems in high-fidelity software and hardware in-the-loop simulations
• Integrate Shield AI autonomy products together with third‑party aircraft and systems
• Collaborate across AI, robotics, and systems engineering teams to deliver integrated solutions
• Contribute to architecture, code quality, design reviews and best practices
• Lead and Mentor junior engineers

Skills

Modern C++

Robotics

Autonomy

Perception

Path planning

Software engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/ENG/Robotics or related field

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defence technology company building intelligent autonomous systems for aircraft. Our mission is to protect service members and civilians through AI and autonomy.

We’re on the lookout for an experienced Senior Engineer, Autonomy to join our Hivemind Solutions team and help design, build, and deploy real-world autonomous capabilities for uncrewed systems. This is a hands-on engineering role, blending software development with robotics, perception, and path planning. You’ll be joining a high-performing team shaping the future of AI pilots for solving real-world problems.

If you’re a capable C++ developer with a passion for robotics and autonomy, this is your chance to make a real impact.

What you'll be doing:

• As a Senior Autonomy Engineer, you’ll work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, task & motion planning and controls.
• Design and implement autonomous behaviours for uncrewed aircraft.
• Work with real sensor data and build robust sensor fusion solutions.
• Develop and test autonomy systems in high-fidelity software and hardware in-the-loop simulations.
• Integrate Shield AI autonomy products together with third‑party aircraft and systems.
• Collaborate across AI, robotics, and systems engineering teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Contribute to architecture, code quality, design reviews and best practices.
• Lead and Mentor junior engineers

Required Qualifications:

• A tertiary level qualification in Computer Science, Mechatronics, Software Engineering, Aerospace, Robotics or a related field
• Significant professional experience in robotics, autonomy, perception or aerospace systems
• Strong experience in modern C++
• Significant experience in building and delivering reliable software systems, ideally in fast-paced environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience with uncrewed systems, especially in the air domain
• Defence industry experience
• Significant experience in one or more of the following domains:
• Real‑Time Systems
• Guidance, Navigation and Control
• Path Planning

Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems, and this role supports that mission directly by working with Australian Government classified material. It requires an Australian Government security clearance at [Baseline / NV1 / NV2] level.

You don't need to hold a clearance already, we will sponsor your clearance and support you, because mission first, people always. Australian citizenship is a mandatory requirement for this role. It is a condition of clearance eligibility set by the Australian Government, eligibility details are here: https://www.agsva.gov.au/applicants/eligibility-suitability