Senior Systems Engineer – Autonomy & UAS Architecture

Socket.dev; United States; On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Systems Engineer to lead the design, development, and integration of next-gen UAS architecture capable of operating in contested environments. You will own system-level behavior, modular integration of avionics and autonomy, and MBSE-driven analyses to inform trade studies and safety cases.

Applicants should have 8+ years in aerospace/defense systems engineering, a track record in flight testing, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams within a fast-paced,

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in systems engineering for aerospace, defense, or autonomous aircraft systems.
• Demonstrated experience defining system behavior logic and operational modes
• Deep expertise in system architecture, avionics integration, and autonomy-driven flight systems.
• Proficiency in MBSE, DOORS, SysML, CAMEO, or similar system modeling tools for complex systems design and analysis.
• Experience with Group 4 or Group 5 UAS, military aircraft, or autonomous airborne platforms.
• Strong background in flight testing, system integration, and performance validation.
• Knowledge of DoD acquisition processes, MIL-STDs, FAA airworthiness certification, and airborne system safety standards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive complex projects to successful completion.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile development environment with shifting priorities.
• Worked on developmental program from clean sheet to first flight
• Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

Responsibilities

• Perform System Architecture & Design: Develop and refine the system architecture for the next gen UAS, ensuring seamless integration of avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensor payloads, and mission systems.
• Define and document system-level behavior, including modes, states, transitions, and fault responses
• Support safety analyses (FHA, FMEA, FTA) by defining behavior under fault conditions
• Define and Manage System Requirements: Establish top-level requirements, decompose them into subsystems, and maintain traceability across the development lifecycle.
• Autonomy & AI Integration: Work closely with autonomy and software teams to integrate AI-driven flight control, decision-making, and mission execution capabilities.
• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE): Utilize SysML, DOORS, or other MBSE tools to create digital system models, conduct trade studies, and optimize system performance.
• Risk Management & Trade Studies: Conduct trade studies to evaluate design alternatives, assess technical risks, and ensure the best engineering solutions for mission effectiveness.
• Stakeholder & Customer Engagement: Work closely with DoD stakeholders, industry partners, and government agencies to align system capabilities with operational requirements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with hardware, autonomy, software, propulsion, and flight operations teams to drive seamless system integration and rapid development cycles.

Skills

8+ years experience

System architecture

Avionics integration

Autonomy-driven flight systems

MBSE DOORS SysML CAMEO

Flight testing

DoD acquisition knowledge

Cross-functional leadership

Agile development

Security clearance (S//SAR)

Tools

DOORS

SysML

CAMEO

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Systems Engineer to lead the design, development, and integration of next-gen UAS architecture capable of operating in contested environments. You will own system-level behavior, modular integration of avionics and autonomy, and MBSE-driven analyses to inform trade studies and safety cases.

Applicants should have 8+ years in aerospace/defense systems engineering, a track record in flight testing, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams within a fast-paced,