Staff Engineer, Autonomy Integration (R3158) - Shield AI

Job Title: Staff Engineer, Autonomy Integration (R3158)
Job Location: Washington DC Metro Area
Job Listing URL: https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/e82b79ad-0bb7-4ac4-98d6-f5ec1e46c950
Job Description: About Shield AI
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its flagship autonomy software, Hivemind, powers aircraft, drones, and other platforms, enabling complex missions with high reliability in contested environments. With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and internationally, Shield AI’s products actively support U.S. and allied operations worldwide.

For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn,Twitter, and Instagram.

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Autonomy Integration Engineer with 7+ years of experience to support the development, integration, and testing of autonomy algorithms for advanced aerospace, defense, and robotics systems. In this role, you will contribute to implementing and integrating innovative autonomy solutions while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of engineers to meet challenging operational requirements.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to apply your technical expertise in autonomy and system integration while growing your skills in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. You will work on cutting-edge projects that advance the capabilities of autonomous systems and ensure their seamless integration into real-world platforms.
What you'll do:
Autonomy Development: Assist in developing autonomy algorithms for path planning, decision-making, perception, and control to meet system performance and mission requirements.
System Integration: Support the integration of autonomy algorithms with platform hardware and software, including sensors, control systems, and communication interfaces.
Validation and Testing: Conduct simulation-based testing (HIL/SIL) and participate in live system tests to validate autonomy functionality and identify areas for improvement.
Collaboration: Work closely with software developers, systems engineers, and testing teams to ensure alignment of autonomy capabilities with overall system architecture and mission goals.
Optimization and Troubleshooting: Debug and optimize autonomy systems to enhance performance, reliability, and adaptability.
Documentation and Reporting: Contribute to technical documentation, test reports, and presentations for stakeholders and team members.
Innovation and Learning: Stay current on emerging trends and technologies in robotics, autonomy, and AI to incorporate best practices into development efforts.
Leadership and Collaboration: Lead multidisciplinary teams, fostering collaboration between software, systems, and testing engineers to meet program goals and mission requirements.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
7+ years of experience developing and integrating autonomy algorithms in robotics, aerospace, or defense systems.
Proficiency in programming languages such as C++ and Python, and familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
Knowledge of sensor integration, sensor fusion, and middleware frameworks (e.g., ROS, DDS).
Experience with simulation tools and environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) for testing and validation.
Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance.
Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
Familiarity with open architecture standards (e.g., OMS/UCI or FACE) and regulatory standards (e.g., DO-178C)
Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, including software developers, system engineers, and testing specialists, to deliver integrated autonomy solutions.