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Staff Software Engineer, Autonomy Capabilities (R5368)

Shield AI· Hivemind Solutions Division – Flight System Integration
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San Mateo, CA$234.2k - $351.4kFull Time EmployeePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Senior role developing and integrating autonomy capabilities for unmanned platforms across multiple domains, blending classical autonomy with machine learning, and delivering field-tested software solutions with cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

  • Design tactical autonomy algorithms to enable unmanned aircraft to perform complex missions across air, land, and sea domains with minimal human supervision.
  • Develop high-performance software modules that incorporate planning, decision-making, and behavior execution strategies for dynamic and adversarial environments.
  • Implement and test behavior architectures that enable multi-agent coordination, target engagement, reconnaissance, and survivability in contested scenarios.
  • Work at the intersection of classical autonomy and machine learning, blending rule-based systems with learning-based methods such as reinforcement learning to achieve robust, adaptive behavior.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including perception, planning, simulation, hardware, and flight test to ensure seamless integration of autonomy solutions on real-world platforms.
  • Deploy autonomy capabilities to real platforms and participate in field tests and flight demos, validating performance in operationally relevant conditions.
  • Analyze mission logs and performance data to diagnose failures, optimize behavior models, and inform iterative development.
  • Contribute to the autonomy roadmap by researching and prototyping new algorithms, identifying tactical capability gaps, and proposing novel solutions that advance Shield AI’s mission.
  • Support defense-focused programs and customer needs by adapting autonomy solutions to evolving mission sets, compliance requirements, and operational feedback.
  • Travel to office locations, customer sites, and flight integration events typically 10-15% of the year.

Qualifications

  • BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
  • Proficient in production-level C++ software development
  • 7+ years' experience in software sub-system scheduling and integration, behavior planning, task and resource allocation, motion planning, optimization, or flight controls
  • Experience with collaborative software development tools for version control, issue tracking, code reviews, and release management
  • Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, set technical direction, and manage full project lifecycles from concept to deployment
  • Capacity to learn and grow individually, while mentoring junior team members effectively, building team cohesion and capacity
  • Desire to work in a highly collaborative, fast paced, enthusiastic, and mission-centric environment
  • Ability to act as the technical owner for an entire software system, including stakeholder engagement, requirements definition, roadmap management, team coordination, design, implementation, sustainment, and evolution
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

Skills

Required:C++ production-level software developmentTeam leadership and technical ownershipFlight controls / motion planning / optimization

Benefits

  • Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
  • 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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