Engineer I, Software - Autonomous Pilot Integration - New Grad - 6125

Shield AI; Washington; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking Autonomous Software Engineers for full-time roles starting in 2027, with in-person work at our Washington location. This paid position targets students graduating in 2026–2027 academic year and involves contributing to reusable pilot software and autonomy applications across programs and platforms.

You will implement C++ changes, develop pilot behaviors, run tests, and validate data flows in lab or SIL/HIL environments, collaborating with cross‑functional teams to deliver

Qualifications

• Proficient in C++ for mission-critical software.
• Experience with testing and validation of software components.

Responsibilities

• Implement C++ changes to mission behavior and autonomy configurations.
• Develop and adapt pilot behaviors and reference configurations for missions or platforms.
• Run builds and unit/integration tests, reproduce issues using simulation, logs, and telemetry.
• Validate command, status, sensor, and mission data flows in lab or SIL/HIL environments.
• Document setup steps, interface assumptions, test findings and reproducible failures for the program team.
• Collaborate with Autonomy Capabilities, Integration & Test, and platform teams on interfaces and test environments.

Skills

C++

Unit testing

Simulation

Autonomy systems

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.

Overview

The Autonomous Pilot Integration team builds and maintains a reusable core pilot and applies it to real programs and platforms. We combine Hivemind SDK, Perception, and Autonomy Capabilities components into complete mission solutions, adapt them to vehicle and operator interfaces, and validate behavior in simulation, labs, and representative tests. This role contributes to both reusable pilot software and program-specific autonomy applications.

What you'll do:

• Implement C++ changes to program-specific mission behavior, autonomy configuration, diagnostics, or an assigned platform-interface component with guidance.
• Develop and adapt supported pilot behaviors and reference configurations for defined missions or platforms, contributing reusable improvements to the core pilot with guidance.
• Run builds and unit or integration tests; help reproduce issues using simulation, logs, and telemetry.
• Assist with validation of command, status, sensor, and mission data flows in lab or SIL/HIL environments.
• Document setup steps, interface assumptions, test findings, and reproducible failures for the program team.
• Work with the Autonomy Capabilities team on planning and other capability interfaces, and with Integration & Test and platform teams on platform interfaces, compute, and test environments.

We are seeking Autonomous Software Engineers for full-time roles starting in 2027! This is a paid, in-person, full-time position for students graduating during the 2026-2027 academic year. We are now reviewing applications for positions starting after graduation in 2027.