Senior Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration (R5402)

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems.

The Autonomous Pilot Integration team builds autonomy solutions for a wide range of CONOPs and mission sets. As a Senior Staff Software Engineer, you will write new autonomy code, own it end-to-end, and partner closely with the Autonomy Capabilities and Perception teams.

What You'll Do:

• Develop & Field Autonomy , Develop & integrate autonomy software solutions onto unmanned platforms, including payload computer bring-up, container-based deployment, and configuration across onboard compute, sensors, and command-and-control interfaces.
• Technical Strategy & Leadership , Set the technical direction across multiple programs, drive the autonomy reference implementation and common patterns, and anticipate where the stack needs to evolve.
• Collaboration & Cross-Engineering Influence , Build effective working relationships across engineering, represent the team to engineering leadership, customer/program offices, and standards bodies.
• Mentorship & Growth , Mentor senior engineers and other team leads, provide cross-functional mentorship, and help shape the leveling and career bar for the team.
• Design & Documentation , Drive cross-functional design reviews, architecture documents, and post-mortems, and publish content that informs decisions.
• Pre-deployment Preparation , Own the build, configuration, and validation process for mission-ready systems.
• On-site Test & Mission Support , Travel to test sites and support live mission operations.
• Hardware/Software Debugging , Diagnose and resolve integration issues across complex autonomy stacks.
• Mission Data & Debrief Support , Capture mission and test data, reproduce issues in simulation, and partner with autonomy capability owners.
• Continuous Improvement , Build tools and processes to improve integration timelines, test/mission reliability, and team efficiency.
• C2 Interoperability & Standards , Set the strategy for C2 interoperability, shape interface evolution, and own implementation and compliance.
• Hiring , Define the skills bar and hiring strategy for senior roles.

Required Qualifications:

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree.
• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience.
• Proficiency in C++.
• Experience with Linux-based development, embedded systems, and shell scripting.
• Familiarity with middleware, pub-sub, or IPC frameworks.
• Hands-on experience supporting demos, exercises, or field/mission tests.
• Experience with autonomy simulation environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple teams or driving cross-program technical initiatives.
• Track record as the subject-matter expert sought across engineering.
• Track record of setting forward-looking technical strategy.
• Track record of mentoring senior engineers and team leads.
• Experience shaping architecture decisions, interface contracts, and standards.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience supporting unmanned systems.
• Proficiency in Python.
• Experience leading multiple programs or driving cross-program technical initiatives.
• Experience interfacing with customers and external stakeholders.
• Track record of improvements that span the broader engineering organization.
• Familiarity with autonomy stacks, motion planning, or vehicle-control integration.
• Competence in vehicle electronics bring-up.
• Experience with container orchestration.
• Familiarity with platform control / autopilot stacks.
• Proficiency in developing automation tools.
• Build-system experience and CI/CD pipeline familiarity.
• Comfortable interfacing with DoD stakeholders.
• Experience with C2 standards.