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Manager of Engineering, Autonomy Capabilities (R5412)

Shield AI· Hivemind Solutions Division – Flight System Integration
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Hybrid (Washington, D.C. / San Diego, California)$236.2k - $354.2kFull Time EmployeePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Lead and grow a team of autonomy engineers focused on autonomous decision-making for single- and multi-agent platforms across air, sea, and space domains. Own technical delivery, technical direction, and team development from design to field deployment, while remaining technically engaged.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and Grow the Team – Manage a team of autonomy engineers, typically 5–10 people. Own performance, growth, leveling, engagement, and delivery while providing regular coaching, feedback, and technical mentorship.
  • Build the Team – Identify the skills needed, partner with recruiting, conduct interviews, maintain a high hiring bar, and help onboard strong candidates.
  • Own Technical Delivery – Lead autonomy capabilities from initial design through integration, validation, and field deployment.
  • Set Technical Direction – Define technical approaches and architectures for mission autonomy, balancing reuse of existing Shield AI capabilities with new development for specific platforms and missions.
  • Develop Tactical Autonomy – Guide motion planning, tactical behaviors, multi-agent coordination, track fusion, perception-aware decision-making, and weapons- or sensor-target assignment in complex environments.
  • Remain Technically Engaged – Stay close to code, prototype capabilities, review critical designs, investigate difficult problems, and support key delivery milestones.
  • Drive Engineering and Integration Rigor – Ensure high-performance, well-tested software with clear interfaces and reliability for deployment; lead design reviews and strengthen practices.
  • Navigate Ambiguity and Changing Priorities – Make sound technical and staffing decisions when requirements shift; communicate changes clearly.
  • Partner Across Teams and With Customers – Collaborate with Perception, Platform Integration, Simulation, Hardware, Flight Test, and customers to shape requirements and integrate autonomy onto platforms.
  • Lead Testing and Continuous Improvement – Own validation across software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, and live tests; use data to improve capabilities and roadmap.
  • Travel Requirement – Travel approximately 10–15% of the year to Shield AI offices, customer sites, and events.

Qualifications

  • BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field with minimum 7 years of experience; or 5 years with a master’s; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent practical experience.
  • Experience leading and developing engineers as a people manager or technical lead.
  • Track record of leading a technical team from design to field delivery.
  • Significant experience with robotics or autonomous systems (motion planning, tactical behaviors, decision-making, controls, multi-agent coordination).
  • Strong proficiency in C++, production-quality software for real-time/robotics/autonomy systems.
  • Experience with unmanned systems, autonomy simulation environments, and software- or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
  • Strong systems-level problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. SECRET security clearance.

Skills

Required:Team leadership and people managementSystem architecture and technical directionMotion planning and tactical autonomyC++ software developmentUnmanned systems and testing

Benefits

  • Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
  • Temporary employee offer package (after 60 days) + temporary benefits
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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