# Chief Engineer, Autonomy (R4614)

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** Washington, DC, San Diego, CA, Dallas, TX
**Role:** Engineering Management
**Salary:** $200k – $300k/yr
**Experience:** 10+ years
**Skills:** Autonomy, Uas, Hivemind, Gnc, Controls, Estimation, Planning, Perception, Robotics, Software Development
**Posted:** 2025-06-10

> Leads engineering team as Chief Engineer to develop and deploy Hivemind autonomy solutions on unmanned aircraft systems for DoD contracts. Requires 10+ years in autonomy/UAS, expertise in robotics stack, GNC, and leadership of technical teams.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Serve as Chief Engineer on projects developing and deploying autonomy solutions for unmanned aircraft.
- Lead team advancing Hivemind Autonomy and shaping DoD autonomy architectures.
- Define technical objectives, make key engineering decisions, ensure quality of technical deliverables.
- Provide technical leadership for IRAD initiatives and DoD contracts.

## Required Qualifications
- BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, or similar.
- 10+ years industry experience in autonomy and/or UAS platforms (e.g., defense tech, self-driving car).
- 7+ years delivering software to production/certifiable high-reliability environments.
- Understanding of **GNC** (guidance, control, navigation: controls, estimation, planning).
- Understanding of **robotics stack** (controls, estimation, perception, planning).
- Understanding of software development processes and deployment.
- Experience defining technical scope, managing requirements, product architectures, ICDs, system design documentation.
- Problem-solving with scientific technical approach.
- Customer-facing engineering leadership for defense and internal programs.
- Contribute to government contract proposal writing.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills (team of 6-20 engineers).

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