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Senior Software Engineer, Autonomy Capabilities (R5339)

Shield AI
Actively Hiring
San Mateo, Californiafull_time$196K - $294KPosted 4 days ago
Hivemind Solutions DivisionSoftware & IT
About This Role

<div><span data-contrast="auto">Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT&nbsp;aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit&nbsp;</span><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://shield.ai/"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">www.shield.ai</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">. Follow Shield AI on&nbsp;</span><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/shield-ai"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">LinkedIn</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">,&nbsp;</span><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://x.com/shieldaitech"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">X</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">,&nbsp;</span><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/shield_ai"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">Instagram</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">, and&nbsp;</span><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/@Shield_AI"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">YouTube</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}">&nbsp;</span></div><div><br></div><div> <p><span data-contrast="none">The Autonomy Capabilities Team develops functionality to automate single- and multi-agent teams of platforms in pursuit of mission objectives and acts as a central discipline-aligned focal-point for encouraging consistent usage of technical approaches across business portfolios. &nbsp;This team operates at all levels of the command-and-control hierarchy (from advanced control laws, through motion planning, and up to advanced tactical behaviors and multi-agent coordination) and across a multitude of mission sets, platform types, and operational domains (e.g., air, sea, space). &nbsp;The team puts a strong emphasis on both fundamentals (e.g., aircraft kinematics/dynamics, trajectory design, optimization, information fusion, efficient algorithms, etc.) and software integration skillsets (e.g. structures, protocols, threading, interface management, etc.) to bring market-differentiating capabilities to customers that seamlessly operate within their integration contexts.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </div> <div> <p><span data-contrast="none">This position is perfect for an individual who enjoys solving complex problems across a diverse set of programs and integration contexts. An ideal candidate is expected to address operational system needs through a multitude of advanced methodologies that blend traditional control system approaches with advanced optimization. Developed solutions are expected to be integrated into real-world platforms with near-term program impacts and rewards and so balancing theory with practice and rigorous implementation is paramount.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </div><h3>What You'll Do: </h3><div> <li><strong>Tactical Autonomy Design</strong> – Design tactical autonomy algorithms to enable unmanned aircraft to perform complex missions across air, land, and sea domains with minimal human supervision.</li> <li><strong>High-Performance Software Development</strong> – Develop high-performance software modules that incorporate planning, decision-making, and behavior execution strategies for dynamic and adversarial environments.</li> <li><strong>Behavior Architecture Implementation</strong> – Implement and test behavior architectures that enable multi-agent coordination, target engagement, reconnaissance, and survivability in contested scenarios.</li> <li><strong>Hybrid Autonomy Integration</strong> – Work at the intersection of classical autonomy and machine learning, blending rule-based systems with learning-based methods such as reinforcement learning to achieve robust, adaptive behavior.</li> <li><strong>Cross-Functional Collaboration</strong> – Collaborate with cross-functional teams including perception, planning, simulation, hardware, and flight test to ensure seamless integration of autonomy solutions on real-world platforms.</li> <li><strong>Deployment &amp; Field Testing</strong> – Deploy autonomy capabilities to real platforms and participate in field tests and flight demos, validating performance in operationally relevant conditions.</li> <li><strong>Mission Data Analysis</strong> – Analyze mission logs and performance data to diagnose failures, optimize behavior models, and inform iterative development.</li> <li><strong>R&amp;D and Roadmapping</strong> – Contribute to the autonomy roadmap by researching and prototyping new algorithms, identifying tactical capability gaps, and proposing novel solutions that advance Shield AI’s mission.</li> <li><strong>Program Support &amp; Adaptation</strong> – Support defense-focused programs and customer needs by adapting autonomy solutions to evolving mission sets, compliance requirements, and operational feedback.</li> <li><strong>Travel Requirement</strong> – Members of this team typically travel around 10-15% of the year (to different office locations, customer sites, and flight integration events).</li> </div><h3>Required Qualifications:</h3><div> <div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"><span data-contrast="none">BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</span></li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"><span data-contrast="none">Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 4 years and a Master’s degree; or 2 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.&nbsp;</span></li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Proficiency in programming languages such as C++ and Python, and familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS)</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Significant background in&nbsp;one or several&nbsp;robotic technology&nbsp;areas&nbsp;related to&nbsp;control systems,&nbsp;motion planning,&nbsp;optimization,&nbsp;tactical&nbsp;behaviors,&nbsp;and/or&nbsp;distributed&nbsp;decision-making</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> </div> <div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Significant experience&nbsp;with unmanned system technologies and&nbsp;accompanying&nbsp;algorithms (ideally in the&nbsp;space&nbsp;domain&nbsp;specifically)</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Experience with simulation tools and environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS, or similar) for testing and validation</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and&nbsp;optimize&nbsp;system performance</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance&nbsp;or higher&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> </div> </div><h3>Preferred Qualifications:</h3><div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Experience&nbsp;in multiple aerospace domains (e.g., air, land, sea, space)</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Experience across a breadth of methodologies from classical control through optimization and applied&nbsp;ML/RL</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Background in collaborative behaviors&nbsp;and&nbsp;swarm robotics</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Familiarity with&nbsp;domain-relevant&nbsp;DoD or government programs</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> <div> <ul role="list" style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem"> <p><span data-contrast="none">Hands-on experience supporting&nbsp;integration events, customer demos, and/or&nbsp;live exercises</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16185078,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul></div> </div>

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About Shield AI

Defense technology company building AI pilots for aircraft

Defense AI
San Diego, CA
500-1000 employees
View Company Profile
Job Summary
Employment Typefull_time
DepartmentHivemind Solutions Division
CategorySoftware & IT
Salary Range$196K - $294K
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Senior Software Engineer, Autonomy Capabilities (R5339) at Shield AI | WWAEN