Senior Software Engineer, Autonomy Capabilities – Maritime (R5339)

AI Chopping Block; Boston, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI's Autonomy Capabilities Team is seeking a Senior Engineer to own major features end-to-end, from design through deployment, focused on maritime autonomy for USVs, UUVs, and cooperative UAVs. You will work with cross-functional teams to integrate capabilities on real-world platforms.

You will mentor junior engineers, interface with customers in limited capacities, and contribute to roadmaps while balancing theory with practical implementation in high-TRL contexts.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum years of experience depend on degree: 10 with a BS, 9 with MS, or 7 with PhD, or equivalent.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python.
• Experience in robotic areas related to control, motion planning, optimization, and distributed decision-making.
• Experience with unmanned system technologies and related algorithms, preferably maritime.
• Experience with simulation tools such as AFSIM/NGTS for testing and validation.
• Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and communication; ability to obtain SECRET clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own major features end-to-end from design to deployment.
• Mentor junior engineers and interface with customers in limited capacity.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including perception, planning, and hardware.
• Contribute to autonomy roadmaps and research new algorithms.

Skills

C++

Python

Robotics

Teamwork

Communication

Security clearance

Education

BS/MS in CS/EE or equivalent

Tools

AFSIM

NGTS

Job description

The Autonomy Capabilities Team develops functionality to automate single- and multi-agent teams of platforms in pursuit of mission objectives and acts as a central discipline-aligned focal-point for encouraging consistent usage of technical approaches across business portfolios. This team operates at all levels of the command-and-control hierarchy (from advanced control laws, through motion planning, and up to advanced tactical behaviors and multi-agent coordination) and across a multitude of mission sets, platform types, and operational domains (e.g., air, sea, space). The team puts a strong emphasis on both fundamentals (e.g., aircraft kinematics/dynamics, trajectory design, optimization, information fusion, efficient algorithms, etc.) and software integration skillsets (e.g. structures, protocols, threading, interface management, etc.) to bring market-differentiating capabilities to customers that seamlessly operate within their integration contexts.

This position is perfect for an individual who enjoys solving complex problems across a diverse set of programs and integration contexts. An ideal candidate is expected to address operational system needs through a multitude of advanced methodologies that blend traditional control system approaches with advanced optimization. Developed solutions are expected to be integrated into real-world platforms with near-term program impacts and rewards and so balancing theory with practice and rigorous implementation is paramount.

About the Job:

Focusing on the maritime portfolio,you’llbecreating autonomy capabilities forUSVs,UUVs, and cooperating UAVsthat enable them to perform advanced single- and multi-agent teamingmissionsbeyond conventional motion planning and waypoint following.The functionality you add will enable teams to use their diverse payloads and maneuvering characteristics tosearch for,localize,andpursuetargets while avoiding sensed threats and obstacles that pose a risk to platform safety.In many of these applications,you’llhave the opportunity to build capabilities from the ground up and be the first to integrate them onto new platforms.You’lltraditionally start with shorter-term R&D efforts or aligned customer programs but with the intent that successful efforts will grow into larger, multi-year programs.

As a Senior Engineer, you will develop and own major features from end-to-end, from design through operational deployment, and work closely with cross-functional teammates to achieve program goals.You’ll also take an active role in mentoring more junior engineers and may directly interface in customers in limited capacities.

What You'll Do:

• RobustMotion Planning –Automate unmanned surface vehicle (USV)and/or unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV)maneuvering throughadvanced motion planningandadherence to safety constraints includingkeep-out volumes, cooperative and uncooperative vehicles,anddepth limitations
• Localization andTracking –Employcutting edgeapproaches forpassiveand activelocalizationbydefiningfusionmodalities, sensor requirements, andobservability-aware maneuvering capabilitiesto maximizeinformation gleaned from single- or multi-agent sensor networks
• Safe Maritime Operations –Keep vehiclesafetyas a central focus within autonomous behavior architectures toprovide run-time assurance, ensureCOLREGSadherence, andbuild operator trust in advanced mission autonomy
• Heterogeneous Multi-Agent Collaboration – Develop distributed optimization and task allocation approaches for heterogenous teamingin ordertoaccomplishmissionobjectivesby maximallyutilizingthe diverse capabilities of agents to overall team advantage
• Rigorous Software Development – Develop high-performance software modules that are well-tested, have clear interfaces and span-of-control, and are ready for mid-to-high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) insertions
• Cross-Functional Collaboration – Collaborate with cross-functional teams includingperception, planning, simulation, hardware, andoperationaltest to ensure seamless integration of autonomy solutions on real-world platforms
• Deployment & TestSupport – Deploy autonomy capabilities to realsurfacevehicles, supportingintegration and demonstration events as well asanalysis ofmissionlogs to verify softwareperformanceandvalidatesystem operational effect
• R&D and Road-mapping – Contribute to autonomy roadmapsby researching and prototyping new algorithms,identifyingtactical capability gaps, and proposing novel solutions that advance Shield AI’s mission
• Travel Requirement – Members of this team typically travel around25%of the year (to different office locations, customer sites, and flight integration events).

Required 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 aBachelor’sdegree; or 9 years and aMaster’sdegree; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience
• Proficiencyin programming languages such as C++ and Python
• Significant background inone or severalrobotic technologyareasrelated tocontrol systems,motion planning,optimization,tacticalbehaviors,and/ordistributeddecision-making
• Significant experiencewith unmanned system technologies andaccompanyingalgorithms (ideally in themaritimedomainspecifically)
• Experience with simulation tools and environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS, or similar) for testing and validation
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot andoptimizesystem performance
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearanceor higher

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experiencein multipledomains (e.g., air, land, sea, space)
• Experience across a breadth of methodologies from classical control through optimization and appliedML/RL
• Background in collaborative behaviorsandswarm robotics
• Familiarity withdomain-relevantDoD or government programs
• Hands-on experience supportingintegration events, customer demos, and/orlive exercises
• Experience in applied research and development