Shield AI
Defense-tech
SeniorStaffSoftwareEngineer,AutonomousPilotIntegration
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“Senior Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration at Shield AI. Skills: Autonomous pilot integration, Autonomy software, System architecture. Write autonomy code. Own code end-to-end”
What You'll Achieve.
Improve integration timelines; Improve test reliability; Improve mission reliability; Improve team efficiency
Industry & Context.
Troubleshoot; Optimize system performance; Diagnose issues; Resolve issues; Reproduce issues
Travel required, On-site test support, Live mission support, Obtain SECRET clearance
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
5+ years experience, Ability to obtain SECRET clearance
Nice to Have
Experience supporting unmanned systems, Experience leading multiple programs, Experience interfacing with customers, Track record of improvements, Familiarity with autonomy stacks, Competence in vehicle electronics bring-up, Experience with container orchestration, Familiarity with platform control stacks, Proficiency in developing automation tools, Build-system experience, CI/CD pipeline familiarity, Comfortable interfacing with DoD stakeholders, Experience with C2 standards
What You'll Do.
Own technical direction
Drive autonomy reference implementation
Anticipate stack evolution
Adapt to shifting priorities
Align with engineering leadership
Serve as subject-matter expert
Mentor senior engineers
Provide cross-functional mentorship
Shape leveling and career bar
Drive cross-functional design reviews
Set rigor and process bar
Coordinate hardware/software compatibility
Support live mission operations
Diagnose integration issues
Resolve integration issues
Reproduce issues in simulation
Drive fixes into builds
Build tools and processes
Set strategy for C2 interoperability
Define hiring strategy
Partner with managers on staffing
Assess candidates accurately
Onboard new senior engineers
Develop autonomy software solutions
Integrate autonomy software
Field autonomy software
Bring-up payload computer
Configure onboard compute
Configure C2 interfaces
Set technical direction
Drive common patterns
Keep delivery coherent
Set technical direction
Drive reference implementation
Drive common patterns
Anticipate stack evolution
Align with leadership
Maintain outward presence
Serve as subject-matter expert
Build effective working relationships
Represent team to leadership
Represent team to customers
Represent team to standards bodies
Represent team to external partners
Shape architecture decisions
Mentor senior engineers
Provide cross-functional mentorship
Shape leveling and career bar
Drive cross-functional design reviews
Create architecture documents
Set rigor and process bar
Own configuration process
Own validation process
Coordinate mission readiness
Coordinate release cadence
Support range exercises
Support on-water trials
Support integration events
Perform safety checks
Perform system bring-up
Troubleshoot under constraints
Diagnose hardware/software issues
Resolve hardware/software issues
Debug embedded systems
Build integration tools
Improve integration timelines
Improve test reliability
Improve mission reliability
Improve team efficiency
Set C2 interoperability strategy
Shape interface evolution
Own implementation against standards
Own compliance against standards
Define hiring strategy
Partner with managers
Onboard senior engineers
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Cross-team improvements; Cross-functional design reviews; Cross-functional mentorship; Partner with capability teams; Partner with feature crews; Partner with integrators; Work with Autonomy Capabilities; Work with Perception team; Work with external partners
Communication Scope
Represent team; Brief senior leadership; Present to non-technical audiences
Process & Methodology
Release cadence
Full Job Description
## Description Founded in 2015, 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 and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. 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 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 own the technical direction across multiple programs — driving the autonomy reference implementation and common patterns that portfolios adopt, anticipating where the autonomy stack needs to evolve, adapting as programs and priorities shift, and aligning with engineering leadership early. You'll serve as the subject-matter expert other teams seek out on hard, ambiguo
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