Staff Engineer: Maritime Autonomy & Multi-Agent Systems

Shield; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI’s Autonomy Capabilities Team is seeking a Staff Engineer to lead the technical delivery of complex autonomy capabilities for maritime USVs, UUVs, and cooperative UAVs. You will balance theory with practical engineering, shaping requirements and driving execution across development stages.

The ideal candidate has deep expertise in robotics, motion planning, and multi-agent coordination, and can integrate these capabilities into real-world platforms with TRL growth and customer impact.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Typically requires 7+ years with a Bachelor's; 6 years with a Master’s; 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python; familiarity with RTOS.
• Strong background in robotics technologies related to motion planning, behavior modeling, decision-making, or autonomous system design.
• Experience with unmanned system technologies and related algorithms (ideally space domain).
• Experience with simulation tools and environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS).
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills; ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

Responsibilities

• Robust Motion Planning–Automate USV/UUV maneuvering with advanced planning and safety constraints.
• Localization and Tracking–Develop fusion modalities and observability-aware maneuvers.
• Safe Maritime Operations–Ensure COLREGs adherence and operator trust in autonomy.
• Heterogeneous Multi-Agent Collaboration–Develop distributed optimization and task allocation.
• Rigorous Software Development–Create high-performance, well-tested modules with clear interfaces.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration–Work with perception, planning, simulation, hardware, and tests.
• Deployment & Test Support–Deploy to real platforms and analyze mission logs.
• R&D and Road-mapping–Contribute to autonomy roadmaps and new algorithms.
• Travel Requirement – ~25% travel to offices, sites and events.

Skills

C++

Python

Robotics

Motion planning

Autonomy systems

Teamwork

Problem solving

Communication

Education

BS/MS in CS/EE/Mech/Aerospace

Tools

RTOS

AFSIM

NGTS

Simulation tools

Job description

Shield AI’s Autonomy Capabilities Team is seeking a Staff Engineer to lead the technical delivery of complex autonomy capabilities for maritime USVs, UUVs, and cooperative UAVs. You will balance theory with practical engineering, shaping requirements and driving execution across development stages.

The ideal candidate has deep expertise in robotics, motion planning, and multi-agent coordination, and can integrate these capabilities into real-world platforms with TRL growth and customer impact.