Staff Engineer, Software, GCS - C++ (R5189)

Shieldai; United States; On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full-time benefits

Salary bonuses

Equity options

Job summary

Shieldai in the United States is seeking a skilled software engineer to develop Ground Control Station (GCS) software and command/control systems. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in C++ and UI design, and will lead technical projects while mentoring junior engineers.

This role offers the chance to work on cutting-edge military technology, with responsibilities ranging from software development to direct collaboration with flight operations and autonomy teams. A commitment to high coding standards and a track record in technical leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in software development.
• Proficiency in C++ with multi-threaded application experience.
• Experience with UI/UX design and prototyping.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize GCS/C2 software and applications.
• Lead technical direction and ensure high standards.
• Mentor mid-level engineers and onboard new hires.

Skills

C++

Qt/QML

Full-stack development

Networked systems

GIS

Education

BS/MS in Computer Science or related field

Tools

QGroundControl

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Job Description

The Ground Control Station (GCS) and Command & Control (C2) Software team builds the mission planning, command & control, and post‑mission debrief systems that enable operators to seamlessly manage complex, multi‑domain unmanned missions. We combine deep desktop application development, modern map‑centric interfaces, robust backend integrations, and platform‑specific control protocols to deliver a world‑class operator experience across air, maritime, space, and effects/expendables.

In this role, you will focus on building Ground Control Station software, advanced mission planners, post‑mission debrief utilities, and general C2 interfaces. You will work across C++, Qt/QML, QGroundControl (QGC), and full‑stack technologies to translate autonomous platform capabilities into intuitive, low‑latency, and highly reliable control systems. You will design and develop major GCS features, mentor mid‑level engineers, and represent the GCS/C2 team directly to autonomy capability teams, flight operations, and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Develop & Field GCS/C2 Software – Design, develop, and optimize high‑performance, responsive GCS software and C2 applications, focusing on map‑centric mission planning, real‑time command & control, video streaming, and telemetry visualization.
• Technical Leadership – Own technical direction for major GCS features and systems; architect UI/UX layouts, design robust client/server interfaces, and lead technical decision‑making within your project area.
• Collaboration Across Teams – Act as primary technical interface with the Autonomy Capabilities team, Perception team, flight operations, and external partners; author and negotiate APIs, ICDs, and interface contracts.
• Mentorship & Growth – Mentor mid‑level engineers and partner with managers on onboarding, leveling, and growth planning; formally onboard senior new hires.
• Design, UX, & Documentation – Drive design reviews, UI/UX prototyping, and ICD definition; champion rigorous coding standards, unit/integration testing, and developer/operator documentation.
• Pre‑deployment Preparation – Own the build, configuration, and validation process for mission‑ready ground stations; coordinate hardware/software compatibility, UI/UX readiness, and release cadence with capability and feature teams.
• On‑site Test & Mission Support – Travel to test sites and support live mission operations (flight tests, range exercises, on‑water trials, integration events) and gather feedback, debug live C2 systems, and troubleshoot interfaces.
• Hardware/Software Debugging – Diagnose and resolve integration issues across GCS/C2 stacks, radio links, payload controls, and telemetry streams; address UI responsiveness bottlenecks, memory leaks, and network latency profiling.
• Mission Data & Debrief Support – Architect and implement post‑mission debrief utilities and telemetry analysis tools that parse, play back, and visualize telemetry, logs, and payload data for rapid analysis and issue reproduction.
• Continuous Improvement – Build tools and automation scripts to improve C2 deployment pipelines, test/mission reliability, and simulation‑based operator testing.
• C2 Interoperability & Standards – Own compliance and integration with command‑and‑control standards and architectures such as A‑GRA, UCI, OMS, STANAG 4586, MAVLink.
• Hiring – Interview candidates, help define the skills bar for open roles in your area, and onboard new engineers into your sub‑program.
• Travel Requirement – Travel 10–20% of the year to support field integration, customer demonstrations, or test events.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent experience.
• Strong proficiency in C++, with experience developing complex, multi‑threaded, or latency‑sensitive desktop applications.
• Experience building responsive user interfaces using Qt/QML (or similar modern UI frameworks).
• Hands‑on experience customizing, extending, or building with QGroundControl (QGC) or similar ground‑station software.
• Experience full‑stack or building backend in C/C++, Python, TypeScript, or Go, including service orchestration, command/status interfaces, and data pipelines.
• Deep familiarity with networked and distributed systems, including UDP/TCP transport, custom binary protocols, reliable messaging, pub‑sub middleware, and serialization/IDL tooling.
• Experience using AI‑assisted development tools to accelerate software design, implementation, debugging, testing, and code review while maintaining strong engineering judgment.
• Demonstrated experience owning a major software capability or system from architecture through field delivery.
• Track record of mentoring engineers and growing technical talent.
• Experience authoring or negotiating interface contracts, schemas, or ICDs with internal or external stakeholders.
• Strong debugging and profiling skills, including diagnosing memory leaks, UI responsiveness bottlenecks, and network latency issues.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), map rendering engines (Mapbox, Cesium, Esri, QGC Map Engine), and 2D/3D spatial data visualization.
• Familiarity with video streaming protocols and multimedia frameworks (RTSP, WebRTC, GStreamer, H.264/H.265 codecs).
• Experience developing post‑mission telemetry analysis, log parsing, or interactive playback/debrief systems.
• Familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and deploying C2 services to local, edge, or cloud environments.
• Experience with platform control/autopilot protocols (MAVLink, STANAG 4586) or DoD C2 standards (A‑GRA, UCI, OMS).
• Experience working closely with flight operators, pilots, or military stakeholders to gather feedback and refine user workflows.
• Active SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance.

Benefits

• Full‑time employee: Pay within listed range, bonus, benefits, and equity.
• Temporary employee: Pay within listed range; temporary benefits after 60 days of employment.
• Salary compensation is influenced by skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location.
• All offers are contingent on a cleared background and 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.