Shield AI
Senior Staff Engineer, Communications Systems (R5623)
Washington, D.C. · Senior Staff · Full-time · Posted Oct 16, 2026
- Experience
- Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience in RF communications or mission systems integration for UAVs or military aircraft.
- Education
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
About the job
Leads the design, integration, and testing of secure communications systems for next-generation autonomous aircraft, including data links, RF, SATCOM, and AI-driven sensor fusion.
What you'll do
- Develop and integrate aircraft data links, encryption, and secure communications architectures; define system requirements for RF, SATCOM, optical, and SDR systems.
- Optimize connectivity and data transfer among aircraft, command centers, sensors, and satellite networks; collaborate across avionics, software, and autonomy teams.
- Validate systems through simulation, flight testing, and field deployments, and support DoD compliance and mission readiness.
What they ask for
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
- Strong expertise in RF systems, SATCOM, tactical data links (Link-16, CDL), and sensor integration; proficiency in SDR and secure, encrypted data transmission.
- Experience writing communications subsystem specifications and architectures; knowledge of MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, and other aerospace data bus standards.
- Experience with classified communication protocols and DoD compliance; active Secret clearance.
Nice to have
- Experience with AI-enhanced signal processing and sensor fusion for ISR missions, low-observable communications, or electronic warfare and RF threat mitigation.
- Experience supporting DoD or intelligence community operations; active Top Secret clearance or eligibility to achieve, and SCI eligibility.
Tools
RF, SATCOM, Link-16, CDL, SDR, MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429
AI focus
Develop AI-driven sensor fusion algorithms and work with AI-enhanced signal processing for sensor fusion in ISR missions.
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative