Shield AI
Senior Staff Engineer, Software - Autonomous Aircraft Integration (R4983)
Washington, D.C. · Senior Staff · Full-time · Posted Nov 3, 2026
- Experience
- Typically 10 years related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years with a Master’s degree; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
- Education
- BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience.
About the job
Integrates and deploys autonomy software on unmanned aircraft, prepares systems for flight, and supports flight testing and troubleshooting in lab and field environments.
What you'll do
- Integrate autonomy software with aircraft compute, sensors, and control interfaces; build and validate flight-ready systems.
- Support live flight operations, troubleshoot hardware/software issues, and capture and analyze flight data.
- Collaborate across engineering and test teams, improve integration processes, and assist with certification and compliance documentation.
What they ask for
- Proficiency in C++ and Python; familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
- Linux-based development experience, including embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics.
- Knowledge of sensor integration, sensor fusion, and middleware frameworks such as ROS or DDS; experience with simulation environments such as AFSIM or NGTS.
- Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance; hands-on experience supporting flight demos or live exercises.
Nice to have
- Direct experience supporting unmanned aerial systems or flight test campaigns; familiarity with autonomy stacks, flight control systems, or GNC pipelines.
- Experience with UCI and OMS Standards.
Tools
C++, Python, RTOS, Linux, ROS, DDS, AFSIM, NGTS
AI focus
Deploys and validates autonomy software for unmanned aircraft and analyzes flight data to help refine autonomous behaviors.
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative