Lead Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration

Shield AI

Washington (Washington County)

On-site

USD 150,000 - 210,000

Full time

9 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI is building autonomy for unmanned platforms across air, maritime, space, and effects/expendables. You will develop and field autonomy software end-to-end, lead a small team through design and delivery, and partner with Autonomy Capabilities, Perception, and external platform integrators.

You will mentor engineers and own design reviews, ICDs, and tests. This hands-on role emphasizes on-site work, collaboration, and delivering mission-ready systems while traveling 10–20% of the year to

Qualifications

BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience
Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 5 years and a Master's degree; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience
Proficiency in C++, with experience developing or integrating real-time or latency-sensitive systems
Proficiency in Linux-based development and experience working with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics
Familiarity with middleware, pub-sub, or IPC frameworks used in autonomy or robotics systems (e.g., DDS, message buses)
Hands-on experience supporting demos, exercises, or field/mission tests for unmanned or autonomous systems
Experience with autonomy simulation environments for testing and validation
Demonstrated experience leading a small technical team or owning a major capability from design through field delivery
Track record of mentoring engineers and growing technical talent
Experience authoring or negotiating interface contracts / ICDs with internal or external stakeholders
Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance across the full stack
Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment
Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance

Responsibilities

Develop & Field Autonomy — Develop & integrate autonomy software solutions onto unmanned platforms (air, maritime, space, or effects/expendables), including payload computer bring-up, container-based deployment (e.g., k3s/k3d), and configuration across onboard compute, sensors, and command-and-control interfaces — and lead a small team through the design, development, and delivery of a major capability or sub-program
Technical Leadership — Lead a small feature crew or sub-program; set technical direction, break down work, unblock the team, and report progress to leadership and stakeholders
Collaboration Across Teams — Act as a primary technical interface with the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team, feature crews, and external partners (platform integrators, vehicle/autopilot control vendors, C2 providers); author and negotiate ICDs and interface contracts rather than just consume them
Mentorship & Growth — Mentor mid-level engineers on the team; partner with managers on onboarding, leveling, and growth planning. Formally onboard senior new hires
Design & Documentation — Drive design reviews, ICDs, and post-mortems for your area; push the team toward higher rigor and close process gaps that span teams
Pre-deployment Preparation — Own the build, configuration, and validation process for mission-ready systems; coordinate hardware/software compatibility, mission readiness, and release cadence with capability and feature teams
On-site Test & Mission Support — Travel to test sites and support live mission operations (flight tests, range exercises, on-water trials, integration events), including safety checks, system bring-up, and troubleshooting under time-critical constraints
Hardware/Software Debugging — Diagnose and resolve integration issues across complex autonomy stacks, payload computers, and embedded systems in lab and field environments
Mission Data & Debrief Support — Capture mission and test data, reproduce issues in simulation, and partner with autonomy capability owners to drive fixes back into the next build
Continuous Improvement — Build tools and processes to improve integration timelines, test/mission reliability, and team efficiency across deployment cycles
C2 Interoperability & Standards — Own the interface contracts with C2 providers and drive standards compliance for your area
Hiring — Interview candidates, help define the skills bar for open roles in your area, and onboard new engineers into your sub-program
Travel Requirement – Members of this team typically travel around 10-20% of the year