Staff Engineer, Operations Analyst (R5807)

Shield AI; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 157,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Engineer, Operational Analyst to drive modeling, simulation, and analysis of autonomous aircraft systems. You will evaluate mission effectiveness, survivability, and operational impact across platforms and domains.

The role requires deep knowledge of military operations, wargaming, and M&S techniques, with collaboration across DoD stakeholders and engineering teams to inform design trade-offs and system improvements.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in operational analysis, modeling & simulation (M&S) or military operations research.
• Expertise in military mission analysis, operational planning, and wargaming methodologies.
• Proficiency with AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, or other M&S tools used for aerospace and defense applications.
• Deep understanding of air combat, ISR, electronic warfare, or autonomous systems in contested environments.
• Experience working with DoD stakeholders, warfighters, and government agencies to align capabilities with mission requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute operational analysis strategies to assess effectiveness of autonomous aircraft in real-world military scenarios.
• Lead modeling, simulation, and wargaming efforts to evaluate system performance and survivability in contested environments.
• Translate operational insights into design decisions and system improvements with engineering teams.
• Conduct trade studies and sensitivity analyses to assess system performance under varying conditions and threats.
• Utilize advanced modeling & simulation tools to develop high-fidelity mission models.
• Analyze force-on-force engagements, sensor effectiveness, and autonomy-driven decision-making to optimize mission success.
• Collaborate with DoD stakeholders, operators, and warfighters to align system capabilities with operational requirements.

Skills

Operational analysis

Wargaming methodologies

Data science practices

Excellent briefing skills

Agile development environment

Tools

AFSIM

STK

MATLAB

Python

Git CI/CD

Containerization

Cloud/HPC workflows

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI's technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description

We are seeking a Staff Engineer, Operational Analyst to drive the modeling, simulation, and analysis of Shield AI’s autonomous aircraft systems. This role is pivotal in evaluating the mission effectiveness, survivability, and operational impact of our autonomy solutions across multiple platforms and domains. You will work closely with engineering, product development, and defense stakeholders to inform design trade-offs, assess system performance, and optimize mission capabilities.

This position requires a deep understanding of military operations, wargaming,modeling & simulation (M&S), analytic techniques, and operational analysis techniques. Your work will directly shape Shield AI’s strategy by identifying how our AI-powered platforms can best serve the evolving needs of modern warfare.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute operational analysis strategies to assess the effectivenessof autonomous aircraft in real-world military scenarios.
• Lead modeling, simulation, and wargaming efforts to evaluate systemperformance, mission impact, and survivability in contested environments.
• Work closely with engineering teams and product managers to translateoperational insights into design decisions and system improvements.
• Conduct trade studies and sensitivity analyses to assess system performanceunder varying operational conditions and threats.
• Utilize advanced modeling & simulation tools (e.g., AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, Python)to develop high-fidelity mission models.
• Analyze force-on-force engagements, sensor effectiveness, and autonomy-drivendecision-making to optimize mission success.
• Collaborate with DoD stakeholders, operators, and warfighters to understandmission needs and align system capabilities with operational requirements.
• Support concept of operations (CONOPS) development for new AI-driven aircraftcapabilities.
• Identify emerging threats and operational challenges, ensuring Shield AI’ssystems remain ahead of adversary capabilities.
• Develop and present technical reports, briefings, and recommendations to seniorleadership, customers, and government agencies.
• Leverage modern compute and development best practices (e.g., scalablecloud/HPC workflows, containerization, version control, CI/CD, and automatedtesting) to build, run, and iterate high-fidelity simulation and analysis pipelinesquickly and reliably.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in operational analysis, modeling & simulation (M&S), or military operations research.
• Expertise in military mission analysis, operational planning, and wargamingmethodologies.
• Proficiency with AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, or other M&S tools used for aerospace anddefense applications.
• Deep understanding of air combat, ISR, electronic warfare, or autonomous systems in contested environments.
• Experience working with DoD stakeholders, warfighters, and governmentagencies to align capabilities with mission requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to seamlessly apply modern compute, data science, andsoftware development best practices (e.g., cloud/HPC workflows,containerization, Git-based version control, CI/CD, automated testing, andreproducible analysis) to build and maintain reliable simulations and analytics.
• Excellent communication and briefing skills, with experience presenting to seniorleadership, customers, and military personnel.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile development environment with shiftingpriorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in force-on-force analysis, CONOPS development, or militarycampaign modeling.
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition processes, Joint Capabilities Integration andDevelopment System (JCIDS), and military operational testing.
• Experience integrating AI-driven decision-making algorithms into operationalanalysis frameworks.
• Prior military service or experience working with U.S. Air Force, Navy, or SpecialOperations Forces.
• Experience using GenAI to structure problems and create simulation or analysis tools.
• Active Secret or Top-Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one).

$157,000 - $235,000 a year

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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. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed toequal 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.