Software Development Engineer - New Graduate

Shield AI is seeking Autonomous Software Engineers for full-time roles starting in 2027. This is a paid, in-person, full-time position for students graduating during the 2026-2027 academic year.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, test, and ship C++ and/or Python features, tools, and tests alongside experienced engineers.
• Write embedded firmware in C/C++ for real-time software that controls advanced UAV while in flight.
• Develop tests, reporters, and tooling in Python to validate software behavior and performance.
• Develop and evaluate autonomy software across areas such as mission behavior, planning, multi-agent coordination, decision-making, platform integration, or perception.
• Build unit and integration tests, run and analyze simulation or bench results, and investigate failures using logs, telemetry, traces, and debugging tools.
• Support software integration across autonomy capabilities, platform/vehicle interfaces, sensors, perception products, mission compute, and operator or command-and-control systems.
• Work with real and simulated data from cameras, EO/IR sensors, IMUs, GPS, radars, or other mission payloads.
• Work cross-functionally with electrical and mechanical engineers to help determine and validate software requirements.
• Write documentation for setup steps, interface assumptions, configuration, test procedures, and findings to make workflows repeatable.
• Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and test debriefs, and take on more ownership of features and fixes over time.

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field, graduating between December 2026 and August 2027.
• Proficiency in C++ and/or Python.
• Solid foundation in data structures, algorithms, and software fundamentals.
• Ability to own well-scoped tasks with limited guidance and communicate progress clearly.
• Must be able to work in-person full-time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on project experience involving robotics, controls, planning, computer vision, or machine learning.
• Prior internship or co-op experience writing software.
• Familiarity with simulation tools, ROS/ROS2, or hardware-in-the-loop/software-in-the-loop testing.
• Experience with sensor data or multimodal AI/ML data.
• Experience writing unit/integration tests and debugging using logs or telemetry.
• Comfortable working in a Linux environment and using version control.
• Exposure to embedded systems, real-time software, or safety-critical software practices.

Additional Information

• Salary: USD 77,200-211,200 per-year-salary
• 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