# Staff Engineer, Software - Autonomous Aircraft Integration

**Company**: Shield AI
**Location**: Washington, DC / Boston, MA / San Diego, California
**Work arrangement**: onsite
**Experience**: staff
**Job type**: full-time
**Salary**: $182,720 - $274,080 a year
**Category**: Engineering
**Industry**: Technology

**Apply**: https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/6265ee65-8136-41b5-9279-97f9a4b1d2f6
**Canonical**: https://yubhub.co/jobs/job_c174eeee-910

## Description

This position is ideal for an individual who thrives on solving complex integration challenges that span hardware, software, and systems engineering. As a Staff Engineer, Software - Autonomous Aircraft Integration, you will be skilled at deploying autonomy solutions onto unmanned platforms, preparing systems for flight, and troubleshooting mission-critical issues in both lab and field environments.

Shield AI is committed to developing cutting-edge autonomy for unmanned aircraft operating across all Department of Defense (DoD) domains, including air, sea, and land. Our Flight Integration Engineers are essential to bridging the gap between R&D and deployment, ensuring that autonomous systems function reliably and effectively when and where they are needed most.

### Responsibilities:

- **System Integration & Deployment** , Integrate autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft systems, ensuring seamless operation across onboard compute, sensors, and control interfaces.

- **Pre-flight Preparation** , Own the build, configuration, and validation process for flight-ready systems; coordinate hardware/software compatibility and mission readiness.

- **On-site Flight Test Support** , Travel to test sites and support live flight operations, including safety checks, system bring-up, and troubleshooting under time-critical constraints.

- **Hardware/Software Debugging** , Diagnose and resolve integration issues across complex autonomy software stacks and embedded systems in lab and field environments.

- **Flight Data Capture & Analysis** , Manage data collection during missions and post-test analysis, working with autonomy engineers to refine behaviours and identify improvements.

- **Collaboration Across Teams** , Work closely with autonomy, GNC, systems, and test teams to ensure mission-critical functionality is delivered on time and validated thoroughly.

- **Continuous Improvement** , Build tools and processes to improve integration timelines, flight test reliability, and team efficiency across deployment cycles.

- **Support Certification and Compliance** , Assist with documentation and system-level validation required for certification, airworthiness, and compliance in defense-relevant environments.

- **Travel Requirement**– Members of this team typically travel around 30-40% of the year (to different office locations, customer sites, and flight integration events).

### Requirements:

- 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 a Bachelor’s degree; or 5 years and a Master’s degree; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience

- Proficiency in programming languages such as C++ and Python, and familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS)

- Proficiency in Linux-based development and experience working with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics

- Knowledge of sensor integration, sensor fusion, and middleware frameworks (e.g., ROS, DDS)

- Hands-on experience supporting flight demos or live exercises

- Experience with simulation tools and environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) for testing and validation

- Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance

- 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 aerial systems or similar flight test campaigns

- Familiarity with autonomy stacks, flight control systems, or GNC pipelines

- Competence in sensor integration, electronics debugging, or avionics bring-up

- Proficiency in developing automation tools for system testing, logging, and data parsing

- Comfortable interfacing with DoD stakeholders during field events or technical reviews

- Experience with UCI and OMS Standards

$182,720 - $274,080 a year

## Skills

### Required
- C++
- Python
- Real-time operating systems (RTOS)
- Linux-based development
- Embedded systems
- Shell scripting
- System diagnostics
- Sensor integration
- Sensor fusion
- Middleware frameworks (e.g., ROS, DDS)
- Simulation tools and environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS)

### Nice to have
- Direct experience supporting unmanned aerial systems or similar flight test campaigns
- Familiarity with autonomy stacks, flight control systems, or GNC pipelines
- Competence in sensor integration, electronics debugging, or avionics bring-up
- Proficiency in developing automation tools for system testing, logging, and data parsing
- Comfortable interfacing with DoD stakeholders during field events or technical reviews
- Experience with UCI and OMS Standards