Senior Avionics Systems Engineer for Next-Gen UAS Equity

Shield AI; San Diego (TX); On-site; USD 170,000 - 310,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Systems Engineer to architect, integrate, and validate next-gen UAS avionics for national defense. You will lead cross-functional teams across hardware, software, autonomy, and flight operations to deliver a scalable, mission-ready platform weathering contested environments.

You will define MBSE-based avionics requirements, manage interfaces, and perform trade studies while ensuring compliance with MIL-STD series and DO-178C/DO-254 standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree.
• Define system behavior logic, operational modes, and redundancy/fault management.
• Deep avionics architecture and integration experience, including flight computers and data buses.
• Proficient with MBSE, DOORS, SysML, Cameo for complex systems design.
• Experience with Group 4/5 UAS or autonomous airborne platforms.
• Strong background in avionics integration labs, flight testing and validation.
• Knowledge of DoD processes and avionics standards (MIL-STD-461, 704, 810, DO-178C, DO-254).
• Experience on development programs from concept to first flight; cross-functional leadership.

Responsibilities

• System Architecture & Design: refine avionics architecture for next-gen UAS, including flight/mission computers, data networks, navigation, and interfaces with autonomy and propulsion.
• System Behavior & Safety: define modes, states, transitions, redundancy management, and fault handling; support FHA, FMEA, FTA analyses.
• Requirements & Interface Management: establish top-level requirements and ICDs with traceability across the lifecycle.
• Navigation & Communications: define GPS/INS architectures and robust datalinks for contested environments.
• Avionics Integration: lead integration of avionics hardware and data buses, thermal, EMI/EMC, and environmental considerations.
• Autonomy Integration: ensure compute and sensor data meet flight control and mission needs with autonomy/software teams.
• Stakeholder Engagement: align capabilities with DoD requirements with DoD partners and avionics suppliers.

Skills

System architecture experience

Leadership of cross-functional teams

Agile methodologies

Security clearance readiness (S//SAR)

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

MBSE

DOORS

SysML

Cameo

MIL-STD-461

MIL-STD-704

MIL-STD-810

DO-178C

DO-254

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Systems Engineer to architect, integrate, and validate next-gen UAS avionics for national defense. You will lead cross-functional teams across hardware, software, autonomy, and flight operations to deliver a scalable, mission-ready platform weathering contested environments.

You will define MBSE-based avionics requirements, manage interfaces, and perform trade studies while ensuring compliance with MIL-STD series and DO-178C/DO-254 standards.