Chief Engineer, Weapons

Jackalope Digital LLC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

UK security clearance

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Chief Engineer to solve complex autonomy challenges for unmanned weapon systems. You will lead architecture, design, risk mitigation, and product quality, ensuring successful integration of Hivemind Autonomy across defense contracts.

The role requires a track record of leading technical teams and delivering certifiable software in high-reliability environments, with deep defense industry experience and strong leadership skills.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in CS or engineering is required
• 10+ years in autonomy/unmanned weapon systems or related defense tech
• 7+ years delivering software into production in certifiable environments
• Understanding of guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) and robotics stack
• Experience defining technical scope, architectures, ICDs, and system-level design

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Chief Engineer on Shield AI projects focused on autonomy for unmanned weapon systems
• Lead a team advancing Hivemind Autonomy across defense contracts
• Define technical objectives, make key engineering decisions, ensure quality of deliverables
• Provide leadership across IRAD initiatives and defense programs

Skills

Team leadership

Defense industry experience

Autonomy systems

GNC understanding

Robotics stack familiarity

Technical decision making

Excellent communication

Proposal writing

Education

BS/MS in CS/EE/Mech/Aero

Job description

The Chief Engineer at Shield AI is responsible for solving complex technical challenges in deploying advanced autonomy solutions on unmanned weapon systems.

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 unmanned weapon systems.

This role is part of the Hivemind Solutions organization and leads a 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 weapon systems.

What you'll do:

• Serve as the Chief Engineer on Shield AI projects focused on developing and deploying autonomy solutions for unmanned weapon systems.
• 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 unmanned weapon systems (e.g., defense tech, self-driving cars, etc.)
• 7+ years of delivering software into production/certifiable environments with high reliability
• Understanding of guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) (e.g., controls, estimation, planning)
• Understanding of the 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
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills through the application of a scientific and technical approach
• Customer-facing engineering leadership supporting both defense and internally funded development programs
• Ability to contribute to government contract proposal writing
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent leadership skills, with experience leading a team of 6-20 engineers

Preffered Qualificatons:

• UK security clearance