Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration - Weapons

About the role

Shield AI develops intelligent systems that protect service members and civilians. The company operates through offices and facilities in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. These technologies actively support operations worldwide. More information is available at www.shield.ai. The company maintains a presence on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. You will lead the technical delivery of complex autonomy capabilities for launched effects platforms operating in challenging environments. This role owns the design and implementation of mission behaviors and platform-specific control for small, often air- or ground-launched platforms. You will be responsible for ensuring that multi-agent coordination logic functions reliably in disconnected or air-gapped operational scenarios. The position requires deep ownership of the code from initial software-in-the-loop testing through hardware validation and live field exercises. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to integrate, validate, and field software on real hardware for U.S. and international defense customers. The role demands systems thinking to solve difficult technical problems while maintaining alignment with strict operational constraints. You will drive the technical direction for autonomy features across multiple subsystems in support of fleet-scale operations.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Write new autonomy code for mission behaviors, platform-specific control, multi-agent coordination, contingencies, and executive autonomy on launched effects platforms.
• Own the full software development lifecycle for autonomy features, moving code from software-in-the-loop testing to hardware-in-the-loop testing, to vehicle-in-the-loop testing, and finally to live test exercises.
• Lead the technical delivery of complex autonomy capabilities spanning platform integration, fleet operations, and operational deployment for defense customers.
• Drive technical direction across multiple subsystems while solving some of the team's most challenging technical problems in launched effects autonomy.
• Collaborate closely with the Autonomy Capabilities team, Perception, feature crews, autopilot vendors, C2 providers, and customer partners to align technical solutions with operational needs.
• Combine deep technical expertise with systems thinking to deliver scalable autonomy solutions that function reliably in fleet configurations and disconnected environments.
• Design mission behaviors and platform-specific control for small launched platforms, ensuring functionality within fleet-wide operational concepts.
• Coordinate with the Autonomy Capabilities team and Perception to align track fusion outputs with vehicle control under air-gapped constraints.
• Integrate HivemindSDK components into simulation environments prior to hardware validation in synthetic reality scenarios to ensure correct behavior definition.
• Define contingency logic and executive autonomy rules that remain reliable during extended disconnected operations and real-world deployments.
• Validate software-in-the-loop stacks to confirm behavior correctness before progressing to hardware-in-the-loop testing and field exercises.
• Test vehicle-in-the-loop prototypes in field exercises to refine multi-agent coordination under realistic and demanding conditions.
• Ship builds that support U.S. and allied forces during live test exercises while maintaining strict data handling rules and operational security.
• Partner with autopilot vendors and C2 providers to ensure interoperability across diverse deployed platforms and communication systems.
• Work with feature crews to implement and test new autonomy capabilities, ensuring alignment with product requirements and defense standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex software issues that arise during testing, validation, and live exercises across multiple platform types.
• Document technical decisions and processes to ensure clarity, maintainability, and knowledge transfer within the team.
• Mentor junior engineers by providing guidance on best practices for developing autonomy software for launched effects platforms.

Requirements

• Possess 3-5 years of experience in software engineering roles involving complex systems, mission behaviors, platform-specific control, and multi-agent coordination on launched effects.
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate software using the HivemindSDK inside air-gapped or disconnected environments for defense applications.
• Show capability to write and validate code across software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, and vehicle-in-the-loop test setups throughout the development lifecycle.
• Exhibit strong understanding of motion planning, tactics, and track fusion within defense-oriented autonomy stacks and operational concepts.
• Prove effective communication skills when interacting with feature crews, vendors, and customer partners regarding technical trade-offs and implementation details.
• Hold the ability to own technical problems end-to-end from initial design through deployment and validation in field exercises.
• Display proficiency in navigating constraints inherent to air-gapped, disconnected, and operationally sensitive defense environments.
• Maintain the capacity to work collaboratively within cross-functional teams spread across multiple time zones and operational locations.

Nice to have

• Experience with V-BAT, X-BAT, or Aechelon products is beneficial for supporting related autonomy features and use cases.
• Proficiency with the HivemindSDK is a core requirement for successful integration and development on launched effects platforms.

Practical notes

• This role is based in Washington, DC.
• Engagement type is Full Time Employee.
• The position may involve travel to operational test sites as required by project needs.
• Candidates must be eligible to obtain necessary security clearances for U.S. defense work.
• Specific clearance levels will be determined by Shield AI during the hiring process based on project requirements.
• This position may require participation in exercises and testing activities outside standard business hours to align with operational schedules.
• The successful candidate must comply with Shield AI's policies regarding data handling and operational security.
• Employment is contingent upon passing background checks and any required U.S. government vetting processes.