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Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company developing intelligent autonomy systems for unmanned aircraft and related platforms. This Staff-level role focuses on integrating autonomy software onto unmanned aerial systems (UAS), ensuring seamless operation across onboard compute, sensors, and control interfaces.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own the full build, configuration, and validation lifecycle for flight-ready systems, coordinating hardware/software compatibility and mission readiness.
- Integrate autonomy software stacks onto UAS platforms, managing onboard compute, sensor interfaces, and control systems.
- Travel to test sites (30-40% annually) to support live flight operations, including safety checks, system bring-up, and real-time troubleshooting.
- Diagnose and resolve complex integration issues across autonomy software and embedded systems in both lab and field environments.
- Manage flight data capture during missions and lead post-test analysis with autonomy engineers to refine behaviors and identify improvements.
- Collaborate across autonomy, guidance/navigation/control (GNC), systems, and test teams to deliver mission-critical functionality on schedule.
- Build tools and processes to improve integration timelines, flight test reliability, and team efficiency.
- Support certification, airworthiness documentation, and compliance validation for defense environments.
This is a hands-on technical role requiring deep expertise in embedded systems integration, real-time software, and flight test operations. You will work at the intersection of autonomy software and hardware platforms, directly enabling operational capability.
Requirements:
- BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
- Minimum 7 years related experience with Bachelor's degree; 5 years with Master's degree; 4 years with PhD; or equivalent work experience.
- Proficiency in C++ and Python; familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
- Strong Linux-based development experience with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics.
- Knowledge of sensor integration, sensor fusion, and middleware frameworks (ROS, DDS).
- Hands-on experience supporting flight demos or live exercises.
- Experience with simulation tools (AFSIM, NGTS) for testing and validation.
- Strong problem-solving and system optimization skills.
- Excellent communication and teamwork in multidisciplinary environments.
Preferred:
- Direct experience with unmanned aerial systems or flight test campaigns.
- Familiarity with autonomy stacks, flight control systems, or GNC pipelines.
- Sensor integration, electronics debugging, or avionics bring-up experience.
- Automation tools development for system testing, logging, and data parsing.
- Government stakeholder engagement experience.
- UCI and OMS Standards knowledge.
