Chief Engineer

Shield AI; City Of London; Presencial; GBP 120.000 - 180.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Shield AI, a defense-tech company, seeks a Chief Engineer to lead autonomy software deployments on unmanned aircraft, from group 2 to group 5. You will guide system architecture, risk mitigation, and product quality across IRAD and defense contracts.

You will manage a team of 6–20 engineers, collaborate with cross‑functional teams, and define technical scope, requirements, and ICDs to ensure scalable, certifiable solutions for complex missions.

Formación

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, or similar.
• 10+ years in autonomy and/or UAS platforms (defense tech, etc.).
• 7+ years delivering software into production with high reliability.
• Understanding of guidance, control and navigation (GNC).
• Understanding of robotics stack (controls, estimation, perception, planning).
• Understanding of software development processes and deployment.
• Experience defining technical scope and managing technical requirements, product architectures, ICDs and other system level design documentation.
• Demonstrate problem solving skills by applying a scientific technical approach.
• Customer-facing engineering leader supporting defense and internally funded programs.
• Contribute to government contract proposal writing.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent leadership skills, driving a team of 6-20 engineers.

Responsabilidades

• Serve as the Chief Engineer on Shield AI projects focused on developing and deploying autonomy solutions for unmanned aircraft from group 2 to group 5.
• Lead a team responsible for advancing Hivemind Autonomy and shaping defense autonomy architectures.
• Define and assign technical objectives, make key engineering decisions, and ensure the quality and completeness of all technical deliverables.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight across both Internal Research and Development (IRAD) initiatives and defense contracts.

Conocimientos

Software delivery to production

GNC understanding

Robotics stack

Software development processes

Technical leadership

Customer-facing leadership

Problem solving (scientific approach)

Team leadership (6-20 engineers)

Educación

BS/MS in CS/EE/Mech/Aerosp/Similar

Descripción del empleo

Part of the Hivemind Solutions organization and leads a team of team of engineers to deliver cutting-edge autonomous capabilities for business-to-business and defense contracts. The ideal candidate has defense industry experience as a Chief Engineer and a proven track record of leading technical teams to develop and deploy autonomous systems.

What you'll do:

• Serve as the Chief Engineer on Shield AI projects focused on developing and deploying autonomy solutions for unmanned aircraft from group 2 to group 5.
• Lead a team responsible for advancing Hivemind Autonomy and shaping defense autonomy architectures.
• Define and assign technical objectives, make key engineering decisions, and ensure the quality and completeness of all technical deliverables.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight across both Internal Research and Development (IRAD) initiatives and defense contracts.

Required qualifications:

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree.
• 10+ years of industry experience in autonomy and/or UAS platforms (e.g., defense tech, self-driving car, etc.).
• 7+ years of delivering software into production/certifiable environments with high-reliability.
• Understanding of guidance, control and navigation (GNC) (e.g. controls, estimation, planning).
• Understanding of robotics stack (e.g., controls, estimation, perception, planning, etc.).
• Understanding of software development processes and how to effectively deploy software.
• Experience defining technical scope and managing technical requirements, product architectures, ICDs and other system level design documentation.
• Demonstrate problem solving skills by applying a scientific technical approach.
• Customer-facing engineering leader supporting both defense and internally funded development programs.
• Contribute to government contract proposal writing.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent leadership skills, driving a team of 6-20 engineers.

Preferred qualifications:

UK London

Hivemind Solutions Division - Chief Engineers /International EOR /On-site

Founded in 2015, 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 and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. 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 . Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. Job Description: The Chief Engineer at Shield AI is responsible for solving complex technical challenges in deploying advanced autonomy solutions on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). As the chief authority on system architecture, design, development, risk mitigation, and product quality. The Chief Engineer ensures the successful integration of Hivemind Autonomy across a range of aircraft, from Group 2 propeller aircraft to Group 5 jets. This role