Staff Engineer, DevOps (4797)

The Rundown AI, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Full benefits for regular employees

Job summary

A leading aerospace technology company seeks a DevOps Build Engineer to enhance developer experience for autonomous aircraft. This role requires deep expertise in C++ and CMake, a strong understanding of build processes, and a knack for improving developer velocity by optimizing build cycles. The ideal candidate has extensive experience with CI pipeline integration and automated testing. You'll collaborate closely with engineers to streamline processes, making a significant impact on project success while working in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to integrate automated testing into CI pipelines.
• Experience improving developer productivity at scale.
• Track record of excellence on projects.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the build system for autonomous aircraft.
• Improve developer velocity by optimizing build/test cycles.
• Collaborate with Software Engineers on requirements.
• Set best practices for integration.
• Integrate CI pipelines with HIL and simulation.
• Implement monitoring and alerts for build system performance.
• Aid in resolving build failures quickly.

Skills

C++ expertise

CMake expertise

Dependency management

Docker orchestration

Kubernetes orchestration

Python scripting

Bash scripting

Education

BS in CS, CE, EE or related field with 7+ years industry experience

Job description

Job Description:

Shield AI is building autonomous aircraft that redefine aviation. The Software Integration & Operations (SIO) team builds the pipelines, tools, and systems that make fast, reliable delivery of complex aircraft software possible. As a DevOps Build Engineer, you will own and maintain the build system for our autonomous aircraft (XBAT/VBAT). This role is primarily focused on Developer Experience (DevEx) and bringing DevOps best practices to our software engineers to accelerate their development cycles.

What you'll do:

• Be the expert on our native (C++) software build process.
• Improve developer velocity by reducing build/test cycle time and eliminating pipeline bottlenecks.
• Collaborate with Software Engineers to understand their requirements, propose designs, and implement identified solutions.
• Partner with developers to resolve build/test failures quickly and set best practices for integration.
• Integrate CI pipelines with HIL and simulation environments for automated validation.
• Implement monitoring, dashboards, and alerts related to build system performance for both local development and CI workflows.
• Use agentic solutions to aid in quickly identifying root cause around build failures and getting the appropriate feedback to a Software Engineer.

Required qualifications:

• BS in CS, CE, EE, or related field with 7+ years industry experience (or MS/PhD with 5+ years).
• Deep CMake/C++ expertise or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of dependency management and proficiency with either Conan or CPM.
• Proficiency with containers and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, cloud build clusters).
• Strong scripting skills (Python, Bash).
• Hands‑on experience integrating automated testing into CI pipelines.
• Demonstrated success improving developer productivity at scale.
• Demonstrated track record of excellence as a primary contributor on projects – showcasing the ability to navigate through development cycles, overcome obstacles, and deliver high‑quality solutions in a fast‑paced environment.

Compensation and Benefits:

Full‑time regular employee offer package: Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity. Temporary employee offer package: Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment). Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part‑time employees are not eligible for benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.