Lead Autonomy Systems Engineer

Shield AI; Washington (Washington County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI seeks a senior engineer to lead the technical delivery of autonomy capabilities across launched platforms, coordinating with autonomy, perception, and integration teams to drive end-to-end deployment from software-in-the-loop to live tests.

The role requires 7+ years in C++/Linux, experience with autonomy or embedded systems, and the ability to obtain a SECRET clearance. Travel ~10–20% and onsite work in WA are expected.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent practical experience.
• Typically requires 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Expert C++ and Linux development experience.
• Experience leading complex autonomy or embedded software integration efforts.
• Experience influencing technical direction across multiple engineering teams.
• Experience supporting operational test events or customer deployments.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead Technical Delivery - drive technical direction and cross-functional execution.
• Develop & Field Autonomy - integrate autonomy software onto platforms including autopilot integration.
• Collaboration Across Teams & Partners - interface with multiple teams and partners; influence interfaces.
• Design & Documentation - lead design reviews and architecture decisions.
• Pre-deployment Preparation - coordinate validation and hardware/software compatibility.
• On-site Test & Mission Support - provide leadership during flight tests and demonstrations.
• Hardware/Software Debugging - perform root-cause analysis across autonomy software and hardware.
• Mission Data & Debrief Support - analyze mission data and coordinate corrective actions.
• Continuous Improvement - build tools and processes to improve deployment velocity and reliability.
• C2 Interoperability & Standards - drive open-systems interface implementations.

Skills

C++

Linux

Leadership

Autonomy software

Embedded systems

Systems integration

Education

BS/MS in engineering

Equivalent practical experience

Tools

PX4

ArduPilot

Job description

Shield AI seeks a senior engineer to lead the technical delivery of autonomy capabilities across launched platforms, coordinating with autonomy, perception, and integration teams to drive end-to-end deployment from software-in-the-loop to live tests.

The role requires 7+ years in C++/Linux, experience with autonomy or embedded systems, and the ability to obtain a SECRET clearance. Travel ~10–20% and onsite work in WA are expected.