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Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration – Expeditionary (R5208)

Shield AI· Hivemind Solutions Division – Flight System Integration
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Hybrid (Washington, D.C.), Hybrid (Boston, MA), Hybrid (San Diego, CA), Hybrid (Dallas, TX)$195.2k - $292.8kFull Time EmployeePosted 3mo ago

About the role

Lead the technical delivery and integration of autonomy capabilities for expeditionary platforms (V-BAT and X-BAT), coordinating across multiple engineering teams to drive mission autonomy, payload integration, and field deployment while mentoring engineers.

Responsibilities

  • Lead Technical Delivery – Lead the technical execution of complex autonomy capabilities from architecture through field deployment, coordinating work across multiple engineering teams.
  • Develop & Field Autonomy – Drive integration of mission autonomy, payloads, flight-control interfaces, executive autonomy, and multi-agent behaviors onto V-BAT and X-BAT.
  • Aircraft Team Partnership – Serve as a primary technical partner to the Aircraft team, defining integration approaches, resolving interface issues, and ensuring mission readiness.
  • Cross-Team Technical Leadership – Partner across Aircraft, Autonomy Capabilities, Perception, GCS, Strategic Systems (ACP), and feature crews to solve complex systems integration challenges.
  • Systems Architecture & Integration – Influence architecture, interface design, and integration strategy across multiple subsystems.
  • Design & Engineering Excellence – Lead design reviews, contribute to ICDs, mentor engineers, and improve engineering rigor.
  • Mission Readiness & Field Support – Drive release readiness while supporting flight tests, customer demonstrations, and operational deployments.
  • Continuous Improvement – Improve integration workflows, testing infrastructure, and engineering productivity.
  • C2 Interoperability & Standards – Drive implementation of GCS and C2 interfaces using common open-systems standards.
  • Travel Requirement – Members of this team typically travel around 10–20% of the year to different office locations, customer sites, operator training events, flight tests, and integration exercises.

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.

Skills

Required:C++LinuxSystems integration
Nice to have:Leadership / mentorship

Benefits

  • Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
  • Temporary employee offer package: pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Shield AI

Autonomy for the world.

Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.

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