Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration; R5208 Security Clearance

Position: Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration (R5208) with Security Clearance
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. For more information, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). . Follow Shield AI on Linked In , X , Instagram , and You Tube .

The Autonomous Pilot Integration team builds autonomy solutions for a wide range of CONOPs and mission sets. We combine capabilities from the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team (e.g., track fusion), and the HivemindSDK to develop the autonomy software that runs on an unmanned platform - air, maritime, space, or effects/expendables, depending on the program - then integrate, validate, and field it on the real hardware.

In this role, you'll 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 exercise. 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 that's flying, sailing, orbiting, or downrange - and want to be there when it does.

At this level, you'll also serve as a technical leader within the team - leading a small feature crew or sub-program through design, integration, and delivery, mentoring mid-level engineers, and representing the team directly to capability teams and external partners. Shield AI is committed to developing cutting-edge autonomy for unmanned platforms across every operating domain - air, maritime, space, and effects/expendables - in service of the U.S. Department of Defense and our international defense customers.

Our Autonomous Pilot Integration engineers bridge the gap between R&D and deployment, ensuring autonomous systems function reliably and effectively wherever and whenever they're needed most. What You'll Do:
* Develop & Field Autonomy - Develop & 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 - and lead a small team through the design, development, and delivery of a major capability or sub-program.
* Technical Leadership - Lead a small feature crew or sub-program; set technical direction, break down work, unblock the team, and report progress to leadership and stakeholders.
* Collaboration Across Teams - Act as a primary technical interface with the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team, feature crews, and external partners (platform integrators, vehicle/autopilot control vendors, C2 providers); author and negotiate ICDs and interface contracts rather than just consume them
* Mentorship & Growth - Mentor mid-level engineers on the team; partner with managers on onboarding, leveling, and growth planning. Formally onboard senior new hires.
* Design & Documentation - Drive design reviews, ICDs, and post-mortems for your area; push the team toward higher rigor and close process gaps that span teams.
* 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 - Own the interface contracts with C2 providers and drive standards compliance for your area, including implementation and validation against command-and-control standards (e.g., A-GRA, UCI, OMS).
* Hiring - Interview candidates, help define the skills bar for open roles in…