Senior Flight Integration Engineer — Autonomy & UAS

Shield AI; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 221,000 - 331,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI in San Diego, CA is seeking a Flight Integration Engineer to bridge R&D and deployment by integrating autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft, configuring hardware and software, and preparing flight-ready systems.

You will travel to test sites, support live flights, debug complex stacks, capture flight data, and collaborate across autonomy, GNC, systems, and test teams to ensure safety and reliability.

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 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years and a Master’s degree; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python, and familiarity with RTOS

Responsibilities

• System Integration & Deployment — Integrate autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft systems, ensuring seamless operation across onboard compute, sensors, and control interfaces.
• Pre-flight Preparation — Own the build, configuration, and validation process for flight-ready systems; coordinate hardware/software compatibility and mission readiness.
• On-site Flight Test Support — Travel to test sites and support live flight operations, including safety checks, system bring-up, and troubleshooting under time-critical constraints.
• Hardware/Software Debugging — Diagnose and resolve integration issues across complex autonomy software stacks and embedded systems in lab and field environments.
• Flight Data Capture & Analysis — Manage data collection during missions and post-test analysis, working with autonomy engineers to refine behaviors and identify improvements.
• Collaboration Across Teams — Work closely with autonomy, GNC, systems, and test teams to ensure mission-critical functionality is delivered on time and validated thoroughly.
• Continuous Improvement — Build tools and processes to improve integration timelines, flight test reliability, and team efficiency across deployment cycles.
• Support Certification and Compliance — Assist with documentation and system-level validation required for certification, airworthiness, and compliance in defense-relevant environments.

Skills

C++

Python

RTOS

Linux

Embedded systems

Shell scripting

Sensor fusion

Middleware ROS

DDS

Simulation tools

Flight demos

Data analysis

Problem solving

Communication

Education

BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field

10+ years experience with Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years with Master’s; or 7 years with PhD

Tools

ROS

DDS

Job description

Shield AI in San Diego, CA is seeking a Flight Integration Engineer to bridge R&D and deployment by integrating autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft, configuring hardware and software, and preparing flight-ready systems.

You will travel to test sites, support live flights, debug complex stacks, capture flight data, and collaborate across autonomy, GNC, systems, and test teams to ensure safety and reliability.