Flight Integration Engineer — Autonomy for UAS

Shield AI; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 196,000 - 294,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Flight Integration Engineer to deploy autonomy software on unmanned aircraft, preparing systems for flight and troubleshooting critical issues in lab and field settings.

Ideal candidates bring skills in C++, Python, RTOS, Linux and ROS/DDS, with hands‑on flight test experience and the ability to work across hardware, software, and systems teams. A security clearance is required, and frequent travel is expected to support DoD programs.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

• System Integration & Deployment — Integrate autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft systems, ensuring seamless operation across onboard compute, sensors, and control interfaces.
• Pre‑flight Preparation — Own the build, configuration, and validation process for flight‑ready systems; coordinate hardware/software compatibility and mission readiness.
• On‑site Flight Test Support — Travel to test sites and support live flight operations, including safety checks, system bring‑up, and troubleshooting under time‑critical constraints.
• Hardware/Software Debugging — Diagnose and resolve integration issues across complex autonomy software stacks and embedded systems in lab and field environments.
• Flight Data Capture & Analysis — Manage data collection during missions and post‑test analysis, working with autonomy engineers to refine behaviors and identify improvements.
• Collaboration Across Teams — Work closely with autonomy, GNC, systems, and test teams to ensure mission‑critical functionality is delivered on time and validated thoroughly.
• Continuous Improvement — Build tools and processes to improve integration timelines, flight test reliability, and team efficiency across deployment cycles.
• Support Certification and Compliance — Assist with documentation and system‑level validation required for certification, airworthiness, and compliance in defense‑relevant environments.
• Travel Requirement – Members of this team typically travel around 30-40% of the year (to different office locations, customer sites, and flight integration events).

Skills

C++

Python

RTOS

Linux

Shell scripting

Diagnostics

ROS

DDS

Systems thinking

Team collaboration

Education

BS/MS in CS/EE/ME/Aerospace or equivalent

Tools

ROS

DDS

AFSIM

NGTS

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Flight Integration Engineer to deploy autonomy software on unmanned aircraft, preparing systems for flight and troubleshooting critical issues in lab and field settings.

Ideal candidates bring skills in C++, Python, RTOS, Linux and ROS/DDS, with hands‑on flight test experience and the ability to work across hardware, software, and systems teams. A security clearance is required, and frequent travel is expected to support DoD programs.