# Senior Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration

**Company**: Shield AI
**Location**: Washington, DC, DC
**Work arrangement**: onsite
**Experience**: senior
**Job type**: full-time
**Salary**: $160,000-240,000 per year
**Category**: Engineering
**Industry**: Technology

**Apply**: https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/aec9e538-6071-47c5-9c9b-8aadc0bd3f7e?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply
**Canonical**: https://yubhub.co/jobs/job_fdcc74ac-7f2

## Description

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our Autonomous Pilot Integration team. As a key member of this team, you will develop and 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.

You will work closely with the Autonomy Capabilities team, the Perception team, feature crews, and external partners to deliver and validate mission-critical functionality on time. Your responsibilities will include owning the build, configuration, and validation process for mission-ready systems, coordinating hardware/software compatibility, mission readiness, and release cadence with capability and feature teams.

You will also travel to test sites and support live mission operations, including safety checks, system bring-up, and troubleshooting under time-critical constraints. Additionally, you will diagnose and resolve integration issues across complex autonomy stacks, payload computers, and embedded systems in lab and field environments.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to work on 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.

**Key Responsibilities:**

- Develop and integrate autonomy software solutions onto unmanned platforms

- Collaborate with the Autonomy Capabilities team, the Perception team, feature crews, and external partners to deliver and validate mission-critical functionality

- 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

- Travel to test sites and support live mission operations

- Diagnose and resolve integration issues across complex autonomy stacks, payload computers, and embedded systems

**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 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 4 years and a Master’s degree; or 2 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience

- Proficiency in C++, with experience developing or integrating real-time or latency-sensitive systems

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

- Familiarity with middleware, pub-sub, or IPC frameworks used in autonomy or robotics systems

- Hands-on experience supporting demos, exercises, or field/mission tests for unmanned or autonomous systems

- Experience with autonomy simulation environments for testing and validation

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

- 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 uncrewed systems (air, maritime, space, ground, or effects/expendables) or similar field test campaigns

- Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation, and analysis

- Familiarity with autonomy stacks, motion planning, or vehicle-control integration

- 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

- Familiarity with platform control / autopilot stacks (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot, spacecraft flight software, vessel autopilots)

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

- Build-system experience (e.g., Conan, CMake) and CI/CD pipeline familiarity

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

- Experience with C2 standards such as A-GRA, UCI, or OMS

- Familiarity with government-furnished simulation environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) is a plus

**Additional Information:**

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

## Skills

### Required
- C++
- Linux-based development
- Embedded systems
- Shell scripting
- System diagnostics
- Middleware
- Pub-sub
- IPC frameworks
- Autonomy simulation environments
- Problem-solving skills
- Communication skills
- Teamwork skills
- SECRET clearance

### Nice to have
- Python
- Autonomy stacks
- Motion planning
- Vehicle-control integration
- Container orchestration
- Platform control / autopilot stacks
- Automation tools
- Build-system experience
- CI/CD pipeline familiarity
- C2 standards
- Government-furnished simulation environments

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Source: [Apply at jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/aec9e538-6071-47c5-9c9b-8aadc0bd3f7e?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply)