# Senior 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:** $234k – $351k/yr
**Experience:** 10+ years
**Skills:** C++, Linux, autonomy, motion planning, perception, systems integration, technical strategy, architecture, c2 interoperability, uci, oms, stanag 4586
**Posted:** 2026-07-21

> Senior technical leader defining autonomy strategy and architecture for new platforms in space, maritime, and contested logistics. Owns end-to-end development and integration of mission behaviors, control, coordination, and executive autonomy from simulation through live tests; requires 10+ years experience and expert C++ skills.

## Job Description

## What You'll Do

- Stand Up New Programs – Define the technical strategy for establishing autonomy on entirely new platforms and mission areas, determining what should be built, reused, or extended from existing Shield AI capabilities.
- Navigate Ambiguity & Shifting Priorities – Lead engineering through evolving customer needs, changing priorities, and uncertain technical landscapes while maintaining execution and long-term technical vision.
- Technical Strategy & Portfolio Leadership – Define long-term technical direction across Emerging Domains, establishing architecture, integration strategies, and engineering patterns that enable successful transition from R&D to operational programs.
- Develop & Field Autonomy – Guide development and deployment of autonomy capabilities across space, maritime, contested logistics, and future emerging platforms while ensuring successful operational delivery.
- Platform Team Partnerships – Build deep technical partnerships with platform organizations and influence interface evolution, integration strategy, and long-term platform architecture.
- Collaboration Across Teams & Partners – Influence architecture across Autonomy Capabilities, Perception, GCS, platform teams, engineering leadership, customer organizations, and external partners.
- Design & Documentation – Lead architecture reviews, engineering standards, ICDs, and technical best practices across multiple organizations.
- Pre-deployment Preparation – Guide release strategy, mission validation, and operational readiness across multiple emerging programs.
- On-site Test & Mission Support – Provide senior technical leadership during critical demonstrations, operational exercises, and customer events where deep systems expertise is required.
- Hardware/Software Debugging – Lead resolution of the organization's most challenging autonomy integration problems spanning software, hardware, embedded systems, and platform interfaces.
- Mission Data & Debrief Support – Drive organizational learning from operational testing and shape future technical investments based on mission outcomes.
- Continuous Improvement – Drive long-term improvements to engineering processes, developer experience, testing infrastructure, and integration workflows across the Emerging Domains portfolio.
- C2 Interoperability & Standards – Define technical strategy for command-and-control interoperability and guide adoption of platform-appropriate open-systems standards across emerging programs.
- Grow R&D into Programs – Partner with engineering leadership and customers to evolve successful R&D efforts into scalable, long-term programs while helping shape technical strategy for future portfolios.
- Hiring & Developing Technical Talent – Help define the technical hiring bar for senior engineering roles, mentor future technical leaders, and partner with managers to grow organizational capability.

## Required Qualifications

- BS/MS in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent practical experience.
- Typically requires 10+ years of relevant experience.
- Expert-level C++ and Linux systems development experience.
- Demonstrated experience defining technical strategy across multiple programs or engineering organizations.
- Proven track record solving highly complex systems integration challenges in ambiguous environments.
- Experience mentoring senior engineers and influencing engineering direction without formal authority.
- Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

## Preferred Qualifications

- Experience leading first-of-kind autonomy or advanced R&D efforts.
- Experience across multiple autonomy domains (air, maritime, space, ground, or robotics).
- Experience transitioning prototypes into operational systems.
- Experience with government R&D programs and defense customers.
- Experience shaping engineering practices across an organization.
- Experience with UCI, OMS, STANAG 4586, or other defense interoperability standards.

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