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, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. 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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
We’re looking for a Human Machine Interface (HMI) Designer to join our team developing next-generation Ground Control Station (GCS) applications for unmanned aerial systems (UAS). This role is ideal for engineers with a strong foundation in real-time, performance-sensitive software who also bring experience with modern web technologies.
You’ll work on mission-critical software designs that bridges responsive user interfaces with robust backend systems, enabling human operators to plan, command, and monitor autonomous assets with precision and reliability.
What you'll do:
Engage in end-to-end design of HMI systems for UAV ground control station displays
Translate complex system requirements into clear, intuitive, and safety-critical user interfaces
Develop wireframes, user flows, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes using Figma
Collaborate cross-functionally with systems engineers, pilots/operators, software developers, and human factors experts
Apply human factors engineering principles to optimize usability, workload, and situational awareness
Design for real-time data visualization, including telemetry, navigation, sensor fusion, and mission planning tools
Conduct usability testing, simulations, and iterative design validation
Contribute to and maintain a design system and component library within Figma for consistency and scalability
Work with other designers to help establish best practices in HMI/UX design
Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.
Required qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
5+ years of professional experience designing HMI/UX for aerospace, defense, or other commercial applications.
Expert-level proficiency in Figma (component systems, prototyping, design systems)
Strong understanding of:
Human factors
Cognitive workload and situational awareness
Real-time system interfaces and data visualization
Experience working with cross-disciplinary engineering teams
Ability to handle complex, ambiguous problem spaces and translate them into usable designs
Preferred qualifications:
Demonstrated experience designing interfaces for:
Aircraft cockpits (manned) and/or Unmanned systems / Ground Control Stations (GCS).
Experience designing for multi-screen, touch, and hardware-integrated interfaces
Knowledge of simulation environments or operator-in-the-loop testing
Background in designing for degraded environments or high-stress operational contexts
Familiarity with additional tools (e.g., Adobe CC, Principle, Framer), but Figma expertise is strongly prioritized
