Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration (R5395)

Shield AI; San Mateo, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 234,000 - 351,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking Autonomous Pilot Integration engineers to develop and field autonomy software on unmanned platforms across air, maritime, space, and other effects/expendables. You will lead a small feature crew, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and interface with external partners to deliver mission-ready capabilities.

Role emphasizes hands-on development from software-in-the-loop to live test exercises, mentoring engineers, and owning major capability delivery, with 10–20% travel

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; 5 years with Master’s; 4 years with PhD, or equivalent
• Proficiency in C++ for real-time or latency-sensitive systems
• Experience with Linux-based development and embedded systems
• Experience authoring or negotiating ICDs / interface contracts
• Experience leading a small technical team or owning a major capability from design to field delivery
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance

Responsibilities

• Develop and field autonomy software on unmanned platforms (air, maritime, space, or effects/expendables)
• Provide technical leadership for a small feature crew or sub-program
• Collaborate with Autonomy Capabilities and Perception teams and external partners
• Mentor mid-level engineers and onboard new hires
• Drive design reviews, ICDs, and post-mortems
• Own build, configuration, and validation for mission-ready systems
• Travel 10-20% for tests, integration, and events
• Diagnose and resolve integration issues across autonomy stacks and hardware
• Capture mission data and drive fixes into next build
• Improve tooling and processes to boost integration timelines and reliability
• Ensure interface contracts meet C2 standards (A-GRA, UCI, OMS)
• Interview candidates and help define skills bar

Skills

C++ proficiency

Linux development

Embedded systems

Middleware/IPC (DDS)

Team leadership

DoD clearance eligibility

Problem solving

Education

BS/MS in CS/EE/Aerospace

Tools

k3s/k3d

Docker

CMake

Conan

CI/CD tooling

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-BATaircraft, 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.

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 theHivemindSDKto 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'llpartner 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 codeoperatein the real world — whetherthat'sflying, 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 when they’re needed most.

What You'll Do:

• 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 onboardcompute, 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, andtiming profilingunder 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 drivestandards compliancefor 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.
• Travel Requirement — Members of this team typically travel around 10-20% of the year (to different office locations, customer sites, and integration/test events).

Required Qualifications:

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience
• Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with aBachelor’sdegree; or 5 years and aMaster’sdegree; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
• Proficiencyin C++, with experience developing or integrating real-time or latency-sensitive systems.
• Proficiencyin Linux-based development and experience working with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics.
• Familiarity with middleware, pub-sub, or IPC frameworks used in autonomy or robotics systems (e.g., DDS, message buses).
• Hands-on experience supporting demos, exercises, or field/mission tests for unmanned or autonomous systems.
• Experience with autonomy simulation environments for testing and validation.
• Demonstrated experience leading a small technical team or owning a major capability from design through field delivery.
• Track recordof mentoring engineers and growing technical talent.
• Experience authoring or negotiating interface contracts / ICDs with internal or external stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot andoptimizesystem performance across the full stack.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience supporting unmanned systems (air, maritime, space, ground, or effects/expendables) or similar field test campaigns.
• Proficiencyin Python for scripting, automation, and analysis.
• Experience leading a feature crew, sub-program, or small team in an unmanned systems context.
• Experience owning customer- or partner-facing technical relationships (e.g., autopilot vendors, C2 providers, government program offices).
• Track recordof cross-team improvements (process, rigor, documentation, or developer experience).
• Familiarity with autonomy stacks, motion planning, or vehicle-control integration.
• Competence in vehicle electronics bring-up (avionics, spacecraft buses, or vessel control), payload computer integration, or hardware-in-the-loop debugging.
• Experience with container orchestration (e.g., k3s, k3d, Docker) on embedded or payload compute.
• Familiarity with platform control / autopilot stacks (e.g., PX4,ArduPilot, spacecraft flight software, vessel autopilots).
• Proficiencyin developing automation tools for system testing, logging, and data parsing.
• Build-system experience (e.g., Conan,CMake) and CI/CD pipeline familiarity.
• Comfortable interfacing with DoD stakeholders during field events or technical reviews.
• Experience with C2 standards such as A-GRA, UCI, or OMS.
• Familiarity with government-furnished simulation environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) is a plus.

$234,240 - $351,360 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.