# Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** Washington, DC, San Diego, CA, Boston, MA, Dallas, TX
**Role:** ML Engineering
**Salary:** $195k – $293k/yr
**Experience:** 7+ years
**Skills:** C++, Linux, autonomy, systems integration, c2 interoperability, uci, oms, stanag 4586
**Posted:** 2026-07-21

> 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.

## Job Description

## 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.

## Similar roles

- [Staff Software Engineer, Perception](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/9a524510-a5fa-4427-8030-77ef926bf9d7) - Shield AI - Washington, DC - $195k – $293k/yr
- [Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Credit Products (Square Financial Services)](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/bd2bf98f-d359-4412-bc20-6d789f2f37cd) - Square - Seattle, WA - $195k – $343k/yr
- [Staff R&D Software Engineer, Fivetran AI](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/ddef4153-0b2d-46ca-8ae6-417d07782144) - Fivetran - New York, NY - $196k – $245k/yr
- [Staff R&D Software Engineer, Fivetran AI](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/230abf14-7e3f-40c9-a103-dc54edf5f1ae) - Fivetran - Denver, CO - $196k – $245k/yr
- [Staff Software Engineer, AI-Core](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/e2048905-d170-4047-a7cc-dec07104ee7a) - Okta - San Francisco, CA - $194k – $267k/yr

**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/4710ba3c-020b-4d50-89eb-2f5613cedf34
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/4710ba3c-020b-4d50-89eb-2f5613cedf34