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Shield AIShield AIWashington, DC

Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration

Lead technical delivery of first-of-a-kind autonomy solutions for new platforms in space, maritime, and contested logistics domains. Own end-to-end integration from simulation to live tests, influence architecture across teams, and provide on-site mission support in ambiguous, evolving environments.

195k – 293k/yr
On-site7+ YOEML Engineering

About the role

What You'll Do

  • Stand Up New Programs – Lead technical efforts to establish autonomy on new platforms, determining how best to leverage existing Shield AI capabilities while developing new platform-specific solutions.
  • Navigate Ambiguity & Shifting Priorities – Operate effectively as programs evolve, adapting technical plans, balancing competing priorities, and maintaining engineering momentum through changing customer and program requirements.
  • Develop & Field Autonomy – Lead development and integration of autonomy software across emerging-domain platforms, including platform interfaces, payload integration, mission autonomy, and operational deployment.
  • Technical Leadership – Lead feature crews or major integration efforts, mentor engineers, remove technical obstacles, and drive delivery of complex capabilities.
  • Platform Team Partnerships – Serve as a primary technical partner to platform engineering teams while coordinating interface evolution, hardware/software compatibility, and mission readiness.
  • Collaboration Across Teams & Partners – Coordinate closely with Autonomy Capabilities, Perception, GCS, feature crews, customer/program offices, and external partners to deliver integrated autonomy solutions.
  • Design & Documentation – Lead design reviews, architecture discussions, ICD development, and engineering improvements across multiple efforts.
  • Pre-deployment Preparation – Drive validation, release readiness, hardware/software integration, and mission preparation for operational deployments.
  • On-site Test & Mission Support – Provide technical leadership during live testing, demonstrations, and operational events across air, maritime, space, and emerging platforms.
  • Hardware/Software Debugging – Lead root-cause analysis across complex autonomy stacks, embedded systems, and platform interfaces.
  • Mission Data & Debrief Support – Drive post-mission analysis and coordinate engineering improvements based on operational results.
  • Continuous Improvement – Improve engineering processes, testing infrastructure, integration workflows, and deployment efficiency.
  • C2 Interoperability & Standards – Drive implementation of command-and-control interfaces and interoperability standards appropriate for each platform.

Required Qualifications

  • BS/MS in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent practical experience. Typically requires 7+ years of relevant experience.
  • Expert C++ and Linux development experience.
  • Experience leading complex autonomy or systems integration efforts.
  • Experience influencing technical direction across engineering teams.
  • Experience operating successfully in ambiguous or rapidly evolving technical environments.
  • Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience standing up autonomy on new platforms.
  • Experience with autonomous aircraft, maritime, or space systems.
  • Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical initiatives.
  • Experience with military test events or customer deployments.
  • Experience with UCI, OMS, STANAG 4586, or comparable interoperability standards.

Skills

C++Linuxautonomysystems integrationc2 interoperabilityuciomsstanag 4586

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