Staff Software Engineer (Autonomous Pilot Integration)

• 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 clearance
• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience
• Familiarity 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 environment
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance across the full stack
• Hands-on experience supporting demos, exercises, or field/mission tests for unmanned or autonomous systems
• Proficiency in Linux-based development and experience working with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics
• Proficiency in C++, with experience developing or integrating real-time or latency-sensitive systems
• Track record of mentoring engineers and growing technical talent
• Typically 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 experience
• Experience authoring or negotiating interface contracts / ICDs with internal or external stakeholders
• 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 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 campaigns
• Familiarity with autonomy stacks, motion planning, or vehicle-control integration
• Experience with C2 standards such as A-GRA, UCI, or OMS
• Proficiency in developing automation tools for system testing, logging, and data parsing
• Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation, and analysis
• Familiarity 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 familiarity
• Comfortable interfacing with DoD stakeholders during field events or technical reviews
• 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
• 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)
• Familiarity with government-furnished simulation environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) is a plus