Staff Designer — Real-Time UAS Ground Control UX

Shield; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 160,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Designer to join the Ground Control Station team and shape the UX of next-generation UAS control software. You will work with engineers, operators, and product teams to design intuitive workflows and spatial interfaces for planning, commanding, and monitoring autonomous assets with confidence.

The role requires leading end-to-end design across complex features, experience with Figma, and a track record in high-information-density environments.

Qualifications

• 7+ years design/HCI or related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 4 years of experience; or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience leading end-to-end product design across complex features or products.
• Proven track record designing complex, interactive systems—especially in domains involving spatial data, control interfaces, or high information density.
• Demonstrated expertise in Figma as a primary design tool for creating scalable, system-driven designs.
• Deep experience working within cross-functional teams, synthesizing input from Product Management and Engineering.
• Experience conducting usability testing and integrating user feedback into iterative design cycles.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design rationale and tradeoffs.
• Ability to work efficiently, demonstrating bias for action in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead design efforts for key GCS capabilities, ensuring user needs are met across the full development lifecycle.
• Collaborate with engineering, autonomy, product, and test teams to gather system constraints and translate them into user-centered design solutions.
• Influence cross-functional planning, roadmap prioritization, and long-term product vision.
• Drive the end-to-end design process—from concept, wireframes, and prototypes to detailed UI specs and implementation support.
• Regularly test and iterate on designs with real users, incorporating feedback to improve usability and mission effectiveness.
• Help define and maintain a coherent visual and interaction language that supports real-time control, situational awareness, and operational trust.
• Advocate for operator experience and usability in high-stakes environments where clarity, speed, and precision are critical.
• Contribute to the evolution of our design systems, tooling, and cross-platform interface strategy.
• Travel to test flights to perform operator research and support the rollout of new GCS features.

Skills

Design leadership

End-to-end product design

Figma

Cross-functional teamwork

Usability testing

Communication

Bias for action

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree

PhD with experience

Tools

React

WebGL

Embedded UI technologies

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Designer to join the Ground Control Station team and shape the UX of next-generation UAS control software. You will work with engineers, operators, and product teams to design intuitive workflows and spatial interfaces for planning, commanding, and monitoring autonomous assets with confidence.

The role requires leading end-to-end design across complex features, experience with Figma, and a track record in high-information-density environments.