Staff Engineer, Real-Time Simulation for Autonomous Flight

Speedrun Talent Network; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking aStaff Software Engineer for the Hivemind Simulation Platform to shape how autonomous pilots are tested by building simulators and Monte Carlo infrastructure. The role focuses on high-performance, real-time simulations relevant to autonomy, GNC, and runtime assurance.

You will lead design reviews, mentor engineers, and collaborate with autonomy and field-ops teams to translate evaluation needs into scalable simulation interfaces.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years with a Master’s; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
• Strong proficiency in C++, with demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and maintaining production performance-critical software.
• Demonstrated experience building and running multithreaded/multiprocess real-time simulations involving aircraft dynamics.
• Experience both developing Monte Carlo infrastructure and using it to design, execute, and analyze simulation campaigns.
• Demonstrated ability to drive technical decisions, mentor engineers, and collaborate across software and domain engineering teams.
• Experience developing software/simulation under a defined V&V lifecycle

Responsibilities

• Grow the simulation framework’s ecosystem by integrating existing simulators and established standards, and by build new ones where needs are identified.
• Build reusable Monte Carlo infrastructure for parameterization, execution, reproducibility, and collection of results across large simulation campaigns.
• Develop multithreaded and multi-process simulation capabilities, addressing synchronization, timing, state exchange, and performance.
• Partner with autonomy, GNC, and RTA engineers as well as operators in the field to translate evaluation needs into simulation interfaces and infrastructure.
• Support platform specific performance validation using physics models (e.g., 6DoF, 3DoF, etc.).
• Set technical direction, lead design reviews, and mentor engineers in simulation architecture and production software development.

Skills

C++

Multithreaded/real-time simulations

Monte Carlo infrastructure

Mentorship

V&V lifecycle

Python

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

JSBSim

FlightGear

X-Plane

Gazebo

Isaac Sim

Simulink

Job description

Shield AI is seeking aStaff Software Engineer for the Hivemind Simulation Platform to shape how autonomous pilots are tested by building simulators and Monte Carlo infrastructure. The role focuses on high-performance, real-time simulations relevant to autonomy, GNC, and runtime assurance.

You will lead design reviews, mentor engineers, and collaborate with autonomy and field-ops teams to translate evaluation needs into scalable simulation interfaces.