Principal Engineer, Software
Job description
About the role
Principal Engineer, Software
Shield AI operates at the intersection of defense technology and autonomous systems. The company develops intelligent platforms to protect military personnel and civilian populations globally. Its technology portfolio includes Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT vertical lift aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality tools. Operations span the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. More information is available at www.shield.ai, and the company maintains active profiles on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
This document outlines the role of Principal Engineer, Software within the Special Projects organization. It replaces the prior job draft and establishes a new duty order for this position.
The Principal Engineer, Software guides strategic technology paths as a top specialist. The role performs tactical insertion across multiple teams to drive the foundations of the Hivemind ecosystem. The position delivers high-impact solutions in collaboration with product groups operating at scale. Work is conducted within the office of the CTO, focusing on initiatives that support the executive technical vision.
Work Scope and Responsibilities
Individuals in this role design reference models and architectures for edge autonomy under strict timelines. They orchestrate integration flows that connect simulation, middleware, and hardware validation, often under significant time pressure. The position coordinates cross-functional squads to align technical deliverables with the CTO vision and operational demands.
The role involves implementing critical modules using C++ and Go to close capability gaps for tactical systems. Professionals translate ambiguous directives into concrete milestones that steer product roadmaps forward. They validate synthetic environments and digital twins to ensure robustness prior to field deployment.
The position mentors senior engineers on architectural patterns that improve maintainability and team scalability. It drives solutions from concept to deployment alongside Shield AI partners and operational stakeholders. This work results in direct contributions to products and the creation of reference implementations for broader organizational use.
Connection to Hivemind Products
The Special Projects team supports all four pillars of the Hivemind software ecosystem. These include EdgeOS, which serves as C++-based high-performance middleware for autonomy development. It also involves Pilot, autonomy for the edge built upon EdgeOS using a models-based, modular C++ architecture.
Additional products include Forge, which functions as Shield AI's AI Factory for designing, developing, and testing Hivemind Edge systems. Forge utilizes a service-oriented architecture accessed through an SDK, CLI, and web portal, built with Go, Python, and Typescript. The fourth product is Commander, which provides software and hardware for human-in-the-loop and human-on-the-loop interactions. Commander features a C++-based back-end for interaction with Pilot and a web-application UI for mission planning and command and control developed in Typescript and React.
The Special Projects team operates without owning any software products. It tactically and strategically influences the development of foundational Hivemind products. The group rapidly delivers low-TRL solutions through both collaborative and independent efforts. Individuals joining this team quickly develop depth and breadth in the Hivemind software ecosystem. This experience prepares them to lead technology development across product and solution engineering organizations.
Required Qualifications
Candidates must hold expertise in aerospace, robotics, cloud infrastructure, or related technical fields. They must bring three to five years of hands-on experience with complex software ecosystems. Demonstrated mastery over distributed systems and real-time performance constraints is essential.
Strong command of concurrent programming in C++ and APIs in Go or Typescript is required. Applicants should possess the ability to navigate ambiguous environments and establish clear progress benchmarks.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with simulation platforms, synthetic reality tools, and model-driven workflows is valued. Familiarity with Shield AI's technology stack, including Hivemind, EdgeOS, Pilot, Forge, and Commander, is considered a strong asset.
Practical Information
Location is based in the United States. The engagement is full-time employment. Compensation details are specified as $228,000 with a 3 to 5 year outlook. All information regarding application procedures must be confirmed What you'll do
- Meet the bar Practical notes