Senior Systems Engineer — Autonomous UAS

F7d8749a; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer for our next-gen UAS program to design, develop, and integrate autonomous aircraft systems for national defense. You’ll lead system architecture, ensure avionics, autonomy, propulsion, and sensors work together to a mission-ready platform.

Work cross-functionally with hardware, software, flight operations, and manufacturing; define requirements, perform MBSE trades, support flight testing, and ensure compliance with DoD/MIL standards in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• 5+ years in systems engineering for aerospace/defense/autonomous aircraft.
• Experience defining system behavior and operational modes.
• Deep expertise in system architecture, avionics, and autonomy-driven flight.
• Proficiency with MBSE tools (SysML, DOORS, CAMEO).
• Experience with DoD acquisition processes and MIL-STDs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine the system architecture for the next gen UAS.
• Define and document system-level behavior, modes, and fault responses.
• Support safety analyses (FHA, FMEA, FTA) for fault conditions.
• Define and manage system requirements with traceability.
• Collaborate with autonomy and software teams for AI flight control.
• Lead cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery and integration.

Skills

System architecture

Aerospace systems engineering

MBSE

SysML

DoD standards

Cross-functional leadership

Flight testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering (Aerospace / Electrical / Mechanical)

Tools

DOORS

SysML

CAMEO

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer for our next-gen UAS program to design, develop, and integrate autonomous aircraft systems for national defense. You’ll lead system architecture, ensure avionics, autonomy, propulsion, and sensors work together to a mission-ready platform.

Work cross-functionally with hardware, software, flight operations, and manufacturing; define requirements, perform MBSE trades, support flight testing, and ensure compliance with DoD/MIL standards in a fast-paced