Senior Systems Engineer, UAS Autonomy & Defense Systems

Shieldai; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking an experienced Senior Systems Engineer to design, develop, and integrate autonomous aircraft systems for next‑gen UAS programs. You will lead system architecture, define behavior, and ensure seamless integration of avionics, autonomy, propulsion, and sensors to enable mission‑ready platforms in contested environments.

You will collaborate across hardware, software, autonomy, flight operations, and manufacturing teams to create MBSE models, perform trade studies, and support

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in systems engineering for aerospace, defense, or autonomous aircraft systems.
• 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.

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.
• 5+ years of experience in systems engineering for aerospace, defense, or autonomous aircraft systems.
• 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.
• Experience developing AI‑driven autonomy for unmanned aircraft.
• Expertise in ISR, EW, and advanced sensor integration for airborne platforms.

Skills

MBSE

SysML

DOORS

CAMEO

Architecture

Autonomy integration

Flight testing

Tools

DOORS

SysML tools

Job description

Shield AI is seeking an experienced Senior Systems Engineer to design, develop, and integrate autonomous aircraft systems for next‑gen UAS programs. You will lead system architecture, define behavior, and ensure seamless integration of avionics, autonomy, propulsion, and sensors to enable mission‑ready platforms in contested environments.

You will collaborate across hardware, software, autonomy, flight operations, and manufacturing teams to create MBSE models, perform trade studies, and support