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Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company developing autonomous systems for unmanned platforms (air, maritime, space, and effects) used by the U.S. Department of Defense and international defense customers. The Autonomous Pilot Integration team bridges R&D and real-world deployment, combining capabilities from autonomy, perception, and SDK teams to build and field autonomy software on actual hardware platforms.
In this Staff-level role, you will own the technical direction across multiple defense programs, driving the autonomy reference implementation and establishing common patterns that portfolios adopt. You'll write autonomy code including mission behaviors, platform-specific control, multi-agent coordination, contingencies, and executive autonomy logic. Your work spans the full lifecycle: software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, vehicle-in-the-loop, and live test exercises, with direct visibility into code operating in the field—whether flying, sailing, orbiting, or deployed operationally.
Key responsibilities include anticipating where the autonomy stack needs to evolve, adapting as programs and priorities shift, and aligning technical strategy with engineering leadership. You'll serve as the subject-matter expert other teams consult on hard, ambiguous problems in novel solution spaces. You'll mentor senior engineers and team leads, drive cross-team improvements in rigor and process, and represent the team to engineering leadership, customer/program offices, and standards bodies.
This is a hands-on role for engineers who want to see their code operate in the real world and be present during deployment. You'll partner closely with Autonomy Capabilities, Perception, feature crews, and external platform integrators (vehicle/autopilot vendors, C2 providers). The role demands deep technical expertise, systems thinking, and the ability to navigate ambiguity while maintaining high standards for reliability and effectiveness in defense applications.
