Staff Full Stack Engineer, Ground Control Software (GCS) (R3380) - Shield AI

Job Title: Staff Full Stack Engineer, Ground Control Software (GCS) (R3380)
Job Location: San Diego Metro Area
Job Listing URL: https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/b0a0393a-cb38-43e7-9858-b37db32af08e
Job Description: Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Its products include Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge—as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems (wide-area motion imaging software). With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram.

Job Description:
As a Staff Engineer for Ground Control Software, you will contribute to building and optimizing user-facing software systems that interface with our unmanned aerial systems (UAS). You will develop and enhance ground control systems and intuitive front-end interfaces that empower users to efficiently control and monitor UAS operations. You will drive impactful projects by collaborating across multiple teams to ensure seamless integration and delivery of high-quality software.
What you'll do:
Develop and optimize ground control software to ensure effective communication between UAVs and control systems.
Design and build intuitive, user-friendly front-end interfaces for ground control operations.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including back-end developers, autonomy engineers, and UX/UI designers, to deliver integrated solutions.
Implement real-time data visualization and control tools for UAV operations.
Ensure software systems are robust, scalable, and meet performance requirements for real-time operations.
Continuously improve development practices, prioritizing code quality, maintainability, and user-centered design principles.
Contribute to the planning, execution, and delivery of medium-sized projects with a high level of autonomy and collaboration.
Required qualifications:
Minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 4 years of experience; or equivalent experience.
Extensive experience in software development, focusing on front-end technologies (e.g., JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML5, CSS, React, Angular, Vue.js).
Experience with containerization and container management using Kubernetes, Docker, etc.
Experience developing software to interface with web APIs, including proficiency with gRPC and RESTful APIs.
Proven track record of delivering complex software products as an individual contributor.
Experience in developing and optimizing ground control software or real-time control systems.
Strong understanding of real-time communication protocols and back-end integration.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with a focus on delivering user-centric software solutions.
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
Proven track record of successfully shipping products and meeting project deadlines in fast-paced environments.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as part of a collaborative, cross-functional team.
Preferred qualifications:
Experience with UAVs or other autonomous systems.
Experience with C++ 11 or newer.
Experience with international interoperability standards like STANAG4586.
Familiarity with cloud-based software architectures and IoT platforms.
Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and practices in software development.