Senior Autonomy Engineer for Uncrewed Aircraft

Shield AI; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking an experienced Staff Engineer, Autonomy to join our Hivemind Solutions team and help design, build, and deploy real-world autonomous capabilities for uncrewed aircraft. This hands-on role blends software development with robotics, perception, and path planning.

You’ll work with a talented group across AI, robotics, and systems engineering to deliver integrated autonomy solutions and mentor junior engineers, helping shape the future of AI pilots in mission-critical

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

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

Sensor fusion

Software engineering

Path planning

Education

Tertiary qualification in Computer Science, Mechatronics, Software Engineering, Aerospace, Robotics or related field

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BATaircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visitwww.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI onLinkedIn,X,Instagram, andYouTube.

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 do:

As an 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:
  • State Estimation
  • Real-Time Systems
  • Guidance, Navigation and Control
  • Path Planning

#LC

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