Senior Autonomy Software Engineer Multi-Agent Flight Systems

Shield; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI is a defense-tech pioneer focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent autonomy systems. The Autonomy Capabilities Team advances multi-agent platforms, optimizing control laws, planning, and behavior in air, land, and sea environments.

An ideal candidate will blend classical autonomy with learning-based methods, solve real-world integration challenges, and travel to offices, customers, and flight tests.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Typically requires a minimum of 7–10 years of related experience with varying degrees.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python; familiarity with RTOS.
• Background in robotics technologies related to motion planning, behavior modeling, or autonomous system design.
• Experience with unmanned system technologies and related algorithms (air domain).
• Experience with simulation tools (AFSIM, NGTS) for testing and validation.

Responsibilities

• Design tactical autonomy algorithms for unmanned platforms across air, land, sea.
• Develop high-performance software modules for planning, decision-making, and behavior execution.
• Implement and test multi-agent behavior architectures for coordination and reconnaissance.
• Blend classical autonomy with ML/RE methods to achieve robust behavior.
• Collaborate with perception, planning, simulation, hardware, and flight-test teams.
• Deploy autonomy capabilities to real platforms and participate in field tests and demos.
• Analyze mission data to diagnose failures and guide improvements.
• Contribute to autonomy roadmap through R&D and prototyping.

Skills

C++ & Python

Robotics & motion planning

Team collaboration

Education

BS/MS in CS/EE/ME/Aerospace

Tools

AFSIM

NGTS

RTOS

Job description

Shield AI is a defense-tech pioneer focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent autonomy systems. The Autonomy Capabilities Team advances multi-agent platforms, optimizing control laws, planning, and behavior in air, land, and sea environments.

An ideal candidate will blend classical autonomy with learning-based methods, solve real-world integration challenges, and travel to offices, customers, and flight tests.