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Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company developing intelligent autonomy systems, including Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation technologies. The company operates globally with offices across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
In this role, you will lead technical teams across autonomy, integration, and testing, balancing hands-on technical oversight with performance optimization and innovation. You will manage a team responsible for advancing Hivemind and shaping autonomy architectures, defining technical objectives, making key engineering decisions, and ensuring quality and completeness of all technical deliverables. You will provide technical leadership across both Internal Research and Development (IRAD) initiatives and government defense contracts, resolve cross-functional challenges, and drive mission-focused execution with clear stakeholder communication.
Key responsibilities include leading teams of 6–20 engineers, defining and assigning technical objectives, overseeing software quality in high-reliability production environments, managing technical requirements and system-level design documentation (ICDs, architectures), and serving as a customer-facing engineering leader supporting both defense and internally funded development programs. You will contribute to government contract proposals and maintain alignment across technical efforts.
REQUIREMENTS:
- BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years of industry experience in autonomy and/or UxS platforms (defense technology, autonomous vehicles)
- 7+ years delivering software into high-reliability production or certifiable environments
- 2+ years managing technical teams
- Deep proficiency in C++
- Understanding of guidance, navigation and control (GNC): controls, estimation, planning
- Understanding of full robotics stack: perception, estimation, planning, controls
- Understanding of software development processes and effective software deployment
- Experience defining technical scope, managing technical requirements, product architectures, and system-level design documentation
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills with structured, scientific approach
- Experience as customer-facing engineering leader supporting defense and internally funded programs
- Experience contributing to government contract proposals
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proven leadership of teams of 6–20 engineers
- Fluent written and spoken English and Mandarin
