Staff Software Engineer (Autonomous Pilot Integration)

Shield AI; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Coverage

Mental Health Program

Parental Leave

Pet Insurance

Flexible Hours

Onsite Gym

Gym Discount

Free Parking

Competitive Compensation

Stock Benefits

401K Matching

Job summary

Shield AI seeks an experienced Autonomous Pilot Integration engineer to own major autonomy capabilities and deliver them from design through field deployment. You will lead a small technical team, coordinate with autonomy capabilities and perception teams, and partner with external platform integrators to field reliable autonomy software on unmanned platforms.

You will implement mission behaviors, platform-specific control, and multi-agent coordination, while mentoring engineers and supporting

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical/Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience with autonomy stacks, motion planning, or vehicle-control integration.
• Strong C++ development and Linux software engineering background.
• Experience authoring or negotiating interface contracts / ICDs with stakeholders.
• Mentor engineers and lead small teams on major capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop autonomy software such as mission behaviors, multi-agentcoordination, and executive autonomy.
• Bridge R&D to deployment across hardware-in-the-loop and live test exercises.
• Lead a small feature crew or sub-program and report progress to leadership.
• Collaborate with Autonomy Capabilities, Perception, and external platform integrators.
• Own pre-deployment preparation, validation, and mission readiness.

Skills

C++

Linux

Embedded systems

Python

CI/CD

Container orchestration

Mentoring

Autonomy stacks

DoD liaison

Interface contracts

Education

BS/MS in CS/EE/ME/AE

Tools

DDS

Docker

K3s/K3d

PX4/ArduPilot

ICDs

Job description

• The Autonomous Pilot Integration team builds autonomy solutions for a wide range of CONOPs and mission sets
• We combine capabilities from the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team (e.g., track fusion), and the HivemindSDK to develop the autonomy software that runs on an unmanned platform — air, maritime, space, or effects/expendables, depending on the program — then integrate, validate, and field it on the real hardware.
• In this role, you’ll write new autonomy code — such as mission behaviors, platform-specific control, multi-agent coordination, contingencies, and executive autonomy — and own it end-to-end from software-in-the-loop, to hardware-in-the-loop, to vehicle-in-the-loop, to live test exercise
• You’ll partner closely with the Autonomy Capabilities and Perception teams, feature crews, and external platform integrators (vehicle/autopilot control vendors, C2 providers)
• It’s a hands-on role for engineers who like seeing their code operate in the real world — whether that’s flying, sailing, orbiting, or downrange — and want to be there when it does
• At this level, you’ll also serve as a technical leader within the team — leading a small feature crew or sub-program through design, integration, and delivery, mentoring mid-level engineers, and representing the team directly to capability teams and external partners
• Shield AI is committed to developing cutting-edge autonomy for unmanned platforms across every operating domain — air, maritime, space, and effects/expendables — in service of the U.S. Department of Defense and our international defense customers
• Our Autonomous Pilot Integration engineers bridge the gap between R&D and deployment, ensuring autonomous systems function reliably and effectively wherever and whenever they’re needed most
• Develop & Field Autonomy — Develop & integrate autonomy software solutions onto unmanned platforms (air, maritime, space, or effects/expendables), including payload computer bring-up, container-based deployment (e.g., k3s/k3d), and configuration across onboard compute, sensors, and command-and-control interfaces — and lead a small team through the design, development, and delivery of a major capability or sub-program
• Technical Leadership — Lead a small feature crew or sub-program; set technical direction, break down work, unblock the team, and report progress to leadership and stakeholders
• Collaboration Across Teams — Act as a primary technical interface with the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team, feature crews, and external partners (platform integrators, vehicle/autopilot control vendors, C2 providers); author and negotiate ICDs and interface contracts rather than just consume them
• Mentorship & Growth — Mentor mid-level engineers on the team; partner with managers on onboarding, leveling, and growth planning. Formally onboard senior new hires
• Design & Documentation — Drive design reviews, ICDs, and post-mortems for your area; push the team toward higher rigor and close process gaps that span teams
• Pre-deployment Preparation — Own the build, configuration, and validation process for mission-ready systems; coordinate hardware/software compatibility, mission 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), including safety checks, system bring-up, and troubleshooting under time-critical constraints
• Hardware/Software Debugging — Diagnose and resolve integration issues across complex autonomy stacks, payload computers, and embedded systems in lab and field environments — including memory, CPU, and timing profiling under operationally-representative loads
• Mission Data & Debrief Support — Capture mission and test data, reproduce issues in simulation, and partner with autonomy capability owners to drive fixes back into the next build
• Continuous Improvement — Build tools and processes to improve integration timelines, test/mission reliability, and team efficiency across deployment cycles
• C2 Interoperability & Standards — Own the interface contracts with C2 providers and drive standards compliance for your area, including implementation and validation against command-and-control standards (e.g., A-GRA, UCI, OMS)
• Hiring — Interview candidates, help define the skills bar for open roles in your area, and onboard new engineers into your sub-program

Benefits

• Excellent Medical Coverage
• Mental Health Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Flexible Work Hours
• Onsite Gym (DC)
• Gym Discount (San Diego)
• Free Parking
• Competitive Compensation
• Stock Benefits
• 401K Services and Match

Ability to obtain a SECRET clearanceBS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experienceFamiliarity with middleware, pub-sub, or IPC frameworks used in autonomy or robotics systems (e.g., DDS, message buses)Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environmentStrong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance across the full stackHands-on experience supporting demos, exercises, or field/mission tests for unmanned or autonomous systemsProficiency in Linux-based development and experience working with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnosticsProficiency in C++, with experience developing or integrating real-time or latency-sensitive systemsTrack record of mentoring engineers and growing technical talentTypically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 5 years and a Master’s degree; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experienceExperience authoring or negotiating interface contracts / ICDs with internal or external stakeholdersExperience with autonomy simulation environments for testing and validationDemonstrated experience leading a small technical team or owning a major capability from design through field deliveryTrack record of cross-team improvements (process, rigor, documentation, or developer experience)Direct experience supporting unmanned systems (air, maritime, space, ground, or effects/expendables) or similar field test campaignsFamiliarity with autonomy stacks, motion planning, or vehicle-control integrationExperience with C2 standards such as A-GRA, UCI, or OMSProficiency in developing automation tools for system testing, logging, and data parsingProficiency in Python for scripting, automation, and analysisFamiliarity with platform control / autopilot stacks (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot, spacecraft flight software, vessel autopilots)Build-system experience (e.g., Conan, CMake) and CI/CD pipeline familiarityComfortable interfacing with DoD stakeholders during field events or technical reviewsCompetence in vehicle electronics bring-up (avionics, spacecraft buses, or vessel control), payload computer integration, or hardware-in-the-loop debuggingExperience with container orchestration (e.g., k3s, k3d, Docker) on embedded or payload computeExperience leading a feature crew, sub-program, or small team in an unmanned systems contextExperience owning customer- or partner-facing technical relationships (e.g., autopilot vendors, C2 providers, government program offices)Familiarity with government-furnished simulation environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) is a plus.