Senior Engineer, Software Integration - Fleet Support (R5079)

Shieldai; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI seeks a Senior Software Engineer (Integration) to own customer-facing software support for V-BAT fleet operations. You will bridge Fleet Support with software, autonomy, avionics, and systems teams to turn field issues into reproducible findings and long-term improvements.

You will reproduce issues in lab, simulation, and hardware-in-the-loop environments, analyze logs and state, and build lightweight tools to raise triage quality and field readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 5+ years in software engineering for robotics, autonomy, or aerospace.
• Strong C++ and Python programming skills.
• Experience with Linux and hardware/software debugging.
• Ability to turn field symptoms into reproducible findings.

Responsibilities

• Serve as software SME for Fleet Support, leading escalated investigations.
• Triage root-cause analysis of software issues across flight ops and subsystems.
• Reproduce issues in lab, simulation, and HIL environments.
• Analyze logs and telemetry to separate software vs hardware root causes.
• Debug integration points across onboard compute and ground control apps.
• Develop tools and automated checks to improve triage and field support.

Skills

C++

Python

Linux

HIL debugging

Cross‑functional communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/EE

Tools

HW/SW integration tools

Job description

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture‑backed defense‑tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V‑BAT and X‑BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Software Engineer (Integration) to serve as the software SME for the V‑BAT Fleet Support team. In this role, you will own customer‑facing engineering support for software issues affecting aircraft operations, onboard software, mission software, ground control interactions, logging, configuration, and subsystem integration across the fielded fleet.

You will serve as the bridge between Fleet Support and the software, autonomy, avionics, and systems engineering teams, helping transform field‑reported issues into reproducible technical findings, corrective actions, and long‑term product improvements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the software SME for Fleet Support and lead escalated investigations involving fielded aircraft and mission software.
• Triage and root‑cause software issues affecting aircraft behavior, mission execution, subsystem integration, logging, configuration, and deployed operations.
• Reproduce customer‑reported issues in lab, simulation, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) environments.
• Analyze logs, telemetry, and system state to distinguish software defects from hardware, network, installation, or operator‑workflow issues.
• Debug integration points across onboard compute, ground control applications, payload interfaces, and external software dependencies.
• Troubleshoot application programming interface (API) issues, configuration issues, and software‑to‑hardware interactions in operational environments.
• Build and maintain lightweight tools, scripts, and automated checks that improve triage quality, reproducibility, and field support efficiency.
• Support release readiness, validation, software deployment troubleshooting, and recovery planning for customer‑facing operations.
• Turn recurring fleet issues into actionable bug reports, engineering requirements, and product‑improvement recommendations.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in software engineering for robotics, autonomy, aerospace, unmanned aircraft systems, embedded systems, or other mission‑critical platforms.
• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python.
• Strong Linux troubleshooting and systems‑debug experience.Experience debugging software that interfaces with hardware, sensors, networks, or distributed systems.
• Ability to turn vague field symptoms into structured, reproducible technical findings.
• Strong communication skills in cross‑functional and customer‑facing environments.
• Ability to possess a Secret DoD security clearance as required by customers.
• Experience with autonomy software, flight software, embedded avionics software, or ground control software.
• Experience with simulation, HIL, or automated test tooling.
• Experience supporting deployed software, integration test, or operational validation efforts.
• Experience supporting customer‑site deployments or operational readiness events.

Compensation

Full‑time regular employee offer package: Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package: Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part‑time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

Equal Opportunity Employment

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.