Senior Staff Engineer, Autonomy (R5837)

Shield AI; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Engineer, Autonomy to join our Hivemind Solutions team. You will design, build, and deploy autonomous capabilities for uncrewed systems, blending software with robotics, perception, and path planning.

This is a hands-on, high-impact engineering role. You’ll work at the intersection of AI, task and motion planning, and controls, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver integrated solutions and guide junior engineers.

Qualifications

• Tertiary degree in CS/Mechatronics/SE/Aerospace/Robotics or related field.
• Significant experience in robotics, autonomy, perception or aerospace systems.
• Strong experience in modern C++.
• Experience delivering reliable software 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 sim and hardware-in-the-loop.
• Integrate Shield AI autonomy products with third-party aircraft and systems.
• Collaborate across AI, robotics, and systems engineering teams.
• Contribute to architecture, code quality, design reviews and best practices.
• Lead and mentor junior engineers.

Skills

C++ development

Robotics

Autonomy systems

Sensor fusion

Task & motion planning

Software engineering

Leadership

Education

Bachelors/Masters in Computer Science, Mechatronics, Software Engineering, Aerospace or Robotics

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-BAT aircraft, 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, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

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 Staff 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

#LE

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.