Senior Staff Engineer - Real-Time Simulation & Modelling

Shield AI; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI in Melbourne seeks a Staff Engineer in Modelling and Simulation to lead the development and deployment of high-performance simulation environments for Hivemind Mission Autonomy programs in Australia.

You will architect, implement, and maintain real-time and faster-than-real-time simulations used by autonomy, perception, and systems teams to design, test, and demonstrate unmanned aircraft autonomy.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• Extensive professional software engineering experience and systems integration.
• Strong experience with modern C++ and familiarity with legacy C++ standards.
• Professional experience with Python.
• Proven success delivering reliable software in fast-paced engineering environments.
• Experience leading teams delivering complex engineering or software projects.
• Hands-on experience with real-time, distributed simulation systems or HWIL/SWIL environments.
• Experience with Docker or similar containerisation technologies.
• Proficiency working in Linux development environments.
• Strong problem-solving capability and collaboration skills.
• Ability to obtain Australian NV1 security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, and evolution of distributed, real-time simulation systems across virtual, constructive, and live environments.
• Architect and implement high-performance C++ software for modelling, simulation, integration workflows, and system interoperability.
• Develop and optimise real-time and distributed simulation software for multi-agent scenarios and high-fidelity environments.
• Integrate defence simulation frameworks like AFSIM or NGTS to accelerate delivery.
• Design and deliver containerised simulation deployments using Docker and Kubernetes for development, CI, testing, and operations.
• Provide technical leadership to engineering teams of 5+ contributors across software, autonomy, perception, test, and programs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to connect simulation with autonomy algorithms, hardware interfaces, and automated test pipelines.
• Drive CI/CD, test-driven development, software architecture, and simulation tooling improvements.
• Support key customer programs with robust, validated simulation environments.

Skills

C++

Python

Linux

Real-time sim

Team leadership

HWIL/SWIL

Docker

Kubernetes

Security clearance

NV1 clearance

Defence experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AFSIM

NGTS

Job description

Shield AI in Melbourne seeks a Staff Engineer in Modelling and Simulation to lead the development and deployment of high-performance simulation environments for Hivemind Mission Autonomy programs in Australia.

You will architect, implement, and maintain real-time and faster-than-real-time simulations used by autonomy, perception, and systems teams to design, test, and demonstrate unmanned aircraft autonomy.