# Senior Staff Systems Engineer (R4738)

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** San Diego, CA, Dallas, TX, Boston, MA
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Salary:** $180k – $270k/yr
**Experience:** 10+ years
**Skills:** Sysml, Doors, Cameo, Mbse, System Architecture, Avionics Integration, Autonomy Systems, Flight Testing, Fmea, Fta
**Posted:** 2025-10-09

> Lead system architecture and integration for next-gen autonomous UAS platforms, defining requirements and behaviors while coordinating across hardware, software, and flight ops teams. Requires 10+ years in aerospace/defense systems engineering with deep MBSE and avionics expertise.

## Job Description

## What You'll Do

- Perform System Architecture & Design: Develop and refine the system architecture for the next gen UAS, ensuring seamless integration of avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensor payloads, and mission systems.
- Define and document system-level behavior, including modes, states, transitions, and fault responses.
- Support safety analyses (FHA, FMEA, FTA) by defining behavior under fault conditions.
- Define and Manage System Requirements: Establish top-level requirements, decompose them into subsystems, and maintain traceability across the development lifecycle.
- Autonomy & AI Integration: Work closely with autonomy and software teams to integrate AI-driven flight control, decision-making, and mission execution capabilities.
- Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE): Utilize SysML, DOORS, or other MBSE tools to create digital system models, conduct trade studies, and optimize system performance.
- Risk Management & Trade Studies: Conduct trade studies to evaluate design alternatives, assess technical risks, and ensure the best engineering solutions for mission effectiveness.
- Stakeholder & Customer Engagement: Work closely with DoD stakeholders, industry partners, and government agencies to align system capabilities with operational requirements.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with hardware, autonomy, software, propulsion, and flight operations teams to drive seamless system integration and rapid development cycles.

## Required Qualifications

- 10+ years of experience in systems engineering for aerospace, defense, or autonomous aircraft systems.
- Demonstrated experience defining system behavior logic and operational modes.
- Deep expertise in system architecture, avionics integration, and autonomy-driven flight systems.
- Proficiency in MBSE, DOORS, SysML, CAMEO, or similar system modeling tools for complex systems design and analysis.
- Experience with Group 4 or Group 5 UAS, military aircraft, or autonomous airborne platforms.
- Strong background in flight testing, system integration, and performance validation.
- Knowledge of DoD acquisition processes, MIL-STDs, FAA airworthiness certification, and airborne system safety standards.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive complex projects to successful completion.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile development environment with shifting priorities.
- Worked on developmental program from clean sheet to first flight.

## Preferred Qualifications

- Experience developing AI-driven autonomy for unmanned aircraft.
- Expertise in ISR, EW, and advanced sensor integration for airborne platforms.
- Familiarity with modular open system architectures (MOSA) and Government Reference Architectures (GRA) for defense applications.
- Prior experience working with defense primes, DoD stakeholders, or government R&D programs.
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one).

## Similar roles

- [Senior Staff Electrical Engineer, Substation](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/6d2e303f-a2c8-4605-8787-06eb7f89e6ab) - Crusoe - Denver, CO - $179k – $205k/yr
- [Senior / Staff Manufacturing Engineer - Body](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/629aded5-955c-44f3-9857-ca0bc60a1735) - Zoox - Hayward, CA - $178k – $245k/yr
- [Senior / Staff Manufacturing Engineer - High Voltage Battery Assembly](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/84ff12fd-470b-43ce-9b41-69c8847a29c6) - Zoox - Hayward, CA - $178k – $245k/yr
- [Electrical Engineer](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/e101000a-d9d5-4e0e-9062-ad1959b2fcc7) - Sesame - San Francisco, CA - $175k – $280k/yr
- [Power Electronics - Thermal Engineer Senior Staff](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/a4d50f3d-59b5-4f81-b62e-75ac290841d1) - Shield AI - Dallas, TX - $173k – $260k/yr

**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/e799e3eb-acdc-4d7d-b950-d9f18901dc46
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/e799e3eb-acdc-4d7d-b950-d9f18901dc46