Senior Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture‑backed defense‑tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V‑BAT and X‑BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia‑Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.

The Autonomous Pilot Integration team builds autonomy solutions for a wide range of CONOPs and mission sets by combining capabilities from the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team (e.g., track fusion), and the Hivemind SDK to develop autonomy software that runs on an unmanned platform—air, maritime, space, or effects/expendables—then integrates, validates, and fields it on real hardware. In this role, you will write new autonomy code such as mission behaviors, platform‑specific control, multi‑agent coordination, contingencies, and executive autonomy, and own it end‑to‑end from software‑in‑the‑loop to hardware‑in‑the‑loop to vehicle‑in‑the‑loop to live test exercises.

You’ll partner closely with the Autonomy Capabilities and Perception teams, feature crews, and external platform integrators (vehicle/autopilot control vendors, C2 providers). It’s a hands‑on role for engineers who like seeing their code operate in the real world—whether flying, sailing, orbiting, or downrange—and want to be there when it does.

• Develop & Field Autonomy — Develop and integrate autonomy software solutions onto unmanned platforms (air, maritime, space, or effects/expendables), including payload computer bring‑up, container‑based deployment (e.g., k3s/k3d), and configuration across onboard compute, sensors, and command‑and‑control interfaces.
• Collaboration Across Teams — Work closely with the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team, feature crews, and external partners (platform integrators, vehicle/autopilot control vendors, C2 providers) to deliver and validate mission‑critical functionality on time.
• Pre‑deployment Preparation — Own the build, configuration, and validation process for mission‑ready systems; coordinate hardware/software compatibility, mission readiness, and release cadence with capability and feature teams.
• On‑site Test & Mission Support — Travel to test sites and support live mission operations (flight tests, range exercises, on‑water trials, integration events), including safety checks, system bring‑up, and troubleshooting under time‑critical constraints.
• Hardware/Software Debugging — Diagnose and resolve integration issues across complex autonomy stacks, payload computers, and embedded systems in lab and field environments—including memory, CPU, and timing profiling under operationally representative loads.
• Mission Data & Debrief Support — Capture mission and test data, reproduce issues in simulation, and partner with autonomy capability owners to drive fixes back into the next build.
• Continuous Improvement — Build tools and processes to improve integration timelines, test/mission reliability, and team efficiency across deployment cycles.
• C2 Interoperability & Standards — Implement and validate compliance with command‑and‑control standards (e.g., A‑GRA, UCI, OMS) and coordinate with C2 providers on interface contracts and integration milestones.
• Travel Requirement — Members of this team typically travel 10–20% of the year to different office locations, customer sites, and integration/test events.

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience.
• Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 4 years and a Master’s degree; or 2 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
• Proficiency in C++, with experience developing or integrating real‑time or latency‑sensitive systems.
• Proficiency in Linux‑based development and experience working with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics.
• Familiarity with middleware, pub‑sub, or IPC frameworks used in autonomy or…