Chief Engineer, Autonomy (R5150)

Shieldai; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI in the United States is seeking a Chief Engineer of Autonomy to lead the technical execution of autonomy capabilities for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. You will set the architectural direction and oversee end-to-end delivery from concept through flight test.

This role requires extensive leadership across software, hardware, and mission systems, focused on delivering mission-ready autonomy in real-world environments.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of engineering experience in aerospace/defense domains.
• Experience as Chief Engineer or equivalent senior technical leader.
• Led large multidisciplinary teams through development, integration, test, and deployment.
• Proven ability to coordinate across software, systems, AI/ML, simulation, and flight ops.
• Experience with defense programs and customer-facing engagements.
• Active security clearance (Secret) with ability to obtain Top Secret.
• Background in military aviation or advanced airborne systems.
• Experience with autonomous platforms (CCA/ACP) or related autonomy initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical authority for the CCA autonomy efforts and drive technical strategy.
• Lead development, integration, and deployment of autonomy capabilities from concept to flight test and fielding.
• Define and evolve autonomy architectures covering planning, perception, decision-making, and human-machine teaming.
• Ensure rigorous engineering governance, architecture integrity, and mission-focused outcomes.
• Collaborate with program leadership to balance risk, schedule, and customer priorities.
• Lead technical readiness for demonstrations, flight tests, and milestones with stakeholders.
• Direct verification, validation, and operational integration to establish trust and safety.
• Build and mentor a world-class team of engineers and domain experts.
• Influence requirements, roadmaps, and next-generation autonomy capabilities.

Skills

15+ years engineering

Technical leadership

Aerospace/defense experience

Autonomy/CCA experience

Crewed-uncrewed teaming

Security clearance

Job description

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 www.shield.ai.

Responsibilities

Shield AI is seeking a Chief Engineer of Autonomy to lead the technical execution of autonomy capabilities supporting one of the most important military aviation initiatives of our generation. As the senior technical leader for Shield AI's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) autonomy efforts, you will help define how autonomous aircraft operate alongside crewed fighters in contested environments, enabling a new era of air superiority through trusted, scalable autonomy.

This role carries end-to-end responsibility for technical vision, architecture, execution, flight test, operational integration, and customer success. You will work across engineering, product, flight operations, programs, and government stakeholders to transition autonomy from development to operational capability at scale. This is not a research position; this is a position focused on delivering mission‑ready autonomy systems that perform in real‑world operational environments.

• Serve as the senior technical authority for Shield AI's CCA autonomy efforts, accountable for technical strategy, architecture, execution, customer engagement, and mission effectiveness.
• Lead the development, integration, and deployment of operational autonomy capabilities from concept through flight test, operational evaluation, and fielding.
• Define and evolve autonomy architectures spanning mission planning, perception, decision‑making, collaborative behaviors, human‑machine teaming, and platform integration.
• Drive engineering rigor and technical governance across the program, ensuring sound architectural decisions, disciplined execution, and mission‑focused outcomes.
• Partner closely with program leadership to balance risk, schedule, operational requirements, and customer priorities.
• Lead technical readiness for major demonstrations, flight tests, program milestones, operational assessments, and customer engagements.
• Direct verification, validation, and operational integration efforts required to establish trust, performance, safety, and mission effectiveness.
• Build and mentor a world‑class technical organization consisting of chief engineers, architects, principal engineers, autonomy developers, and mission domain experts.
• Help shape the future of autonomous air combat by influencing requirements, concepts of operation, technical roadmaps, and next‑generation autonomy capabilities.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of engineering experience developing complex aerospace, defense, autonomy, weapons, or mission‑critical systems.
• Experience serving as a Chief Engineer, Technical Director, Chief Architect, Technical Fellow, Technical Program Manager, or equivalent technical leadership role.
• Demonstrated success leading large multidisciplinary engineering teams through development, integration, test, and deployment of operational systems.
• Proven ability to lead across software, systems, AI/ML, simulation, mission systems, flight test, and operational stakeholders.
• Experience delivering major defense products with significant technical complexity and customer visibility.
• Experience working directly with Air Force, Navy, Operational Users, Program Executive Offices, or major defense acquisition programs.
• Strong executive communication skills with the ability to influence government, military, and industry leaders.
• Experience operating effectively in rapidly evolving, high‑consequence environments.
• Active Secret clearance with the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.
• Experience with Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP), advanced aviation autonomy programs, or related initiatives.
• Experience with crewed‑uncrewed teaming, mission autonomy, autonomous mission systems, air combat autonomy, or collaborative autonomous systems.
• Background in military aviation, advanced aerospace systems, weapons systems, mission systems integration, or combat aircraft development.

Compensation & Benefits

Full‑time regular employee offer package: Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity.

Temporary employee offer package: Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment).

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. Military fellows and part‑time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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, color, 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.