# Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** Washington, DC, Boston, MA, San Diego, CA, Dallas, TX
**Role:** Embedded Engineering
**Salary:** $195k – $293k/yr
**Experience:** 7+ years
**Skills:** C++, Linux, autonomy integration, embedded software, uas, vtol, Docker, arm, CI/CD, vidar
**Posted:** 2026-07-21

> Lead technical delivery and integration of complex autonomy capabilities for V-BAT and X-BAT unmanned aircraft platforms. Requires 7+ years experience with expert C++ and Linux, leading autonomy/embedded integration, and cross-team technical influence for defense customers.

## Job Description

## What You'll Do
- Lead the technical execution of complex autonomy capabilities from architecture through field deployment, coordinating work across multiple engineering teams.
- Drive integration of mission autonomy, payloads, flight-control interfaces, executive autonomy, and multi-agent behaviors onto V-BAT and X-BAT.
- Serve as a primary technical partner to the Aircraft team, defining integration approaches, resolving interface issues, and ensuring mission readiness.
- Partner across Aircraft, Autonomy Capabilities, Perception, GCS, Strategic Systems (ACP), and feature crews to solve complex systems integration challenges.
- Influence architecture, interface design, and integration strategy across multiple subsystems.
- Lead design reviews, contribute to ICDs, mentor engineers, and improve engineering rigor.
- Drive release readiness while supporting flight tests, customer demonstrations, and operational deployments.
- Improve integration workflows, testing infrastructure, and engineering productivity.
- Drive implementation of GCS and C2 interfaces using common open-systems standards.

## Required Qualifications
- BS/MS in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent experience.
- 7+ years of relevant experience.
- Expert C++ and Linux development experience.
- Experience leading complex autonomy or embedded software integration efforts.
- Experience influencing technical direction across multiple engineering teams.
- Experience supporting operational test events or customer deployments.
- Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

## Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Group 3 UAS or VTOL aircraft.
- Experience with custom autopilot integration.
- EO/IR or ViDAR integration.
- Long-endurance ISR missions.
- Docker, ARM embedded systems, and CI/CD experience.
- Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical initiatives.

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**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/726a5dd0-4c0d-4cdf-bf30-deb85cf8ab7c
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/726a5dd0-4c0d-4cdf-bf30-deb85cf8ab7c