Senior Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration - Emerging Domains

About the role

Position Overview

This role focuses on integrating autonomous pilot functions for defense applications within dynamic, mission-critical environments. You will serve as the technical liaison ensuring that raw aircraft data converts into reliable, deployable capability. The work spans data ingestion, control logic, simulation validation, and field deployment. Success requires coordination across engineering teams and partner organizations to maintain coherent system behavior. You will operate at the intersection of software architecture and real-time flight dynamics, ensuring that high-speed data streams are transformed into actionable intelligence. Your contributions will directly influence how autonomous capabilities perform in contested and constrained operational settings. You will be responsible for turning abstract requirements into concrete software components that meet stringent defense standards. This position demands comfort with ambiguity and the ability to deliver robust solutions under strict performance and safety expectations.

Location and Engagement

The position is based in Washington, DC. It is a full-time employee role. The compensation range is 183000 USD to 235000 USD annually.

Key Responsibilities

You will design data intake pipelines that standardize heterogeneous telemetry before processing enters the software stack. Building modules for V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft will fall under your purview, with strict adherence to hard real-time constraints. You will orchestrate the analysis of Aechelon simulation outputs, contrasting synthetic scenarios with actual flight measurements. Enabling ship processes for edge updates is a core duty, requiring rigorous validation before field distribution. Establishing and maintaining partner interfaces will ensure traceable data contracts and synchronized changes across operations. You will refine intake filters to eliminate irrelevant data while safeguarding critical anomalies for investigation. Replaying historical missions in simulation will challenge build assumptions and reveal hidden timing vulnerabilities. You will guide the creation of review checklists to confirm adherence to defense standards and internal reliability goals. Supporting ship validation during live flights will generate metrics to refine simulation models. Aligning partner roadmaps will clarify how new capabilities integrate with current platforms and workflows. You will troubleshoot complex integration issues that span multiple subsystems and organizational boundaries. Documentation of interfaces and decisions will be maintained to ensure long-term maintainability and knowledge transfer. You will participate in on-call rotations to address urgent issues affecting deployed systems in the field. Collaboration with hardware engineers will ensure that software designs remain feasible given physical platform limitations. You will contribute to architectural reviews that shape the long-term evolution of the autonomous pilot stack.

Required Qualifications

You must possess a minimum of three years of experience developing software for aircraft or comparable dynamic systems. Hands-on work with real-time control loops and sensor fusion pipelines in demanding conditions is mandatory. Understanding of networking protocols and data structures that support modern flight stacks is essential. You must be capable of reading specifications, asking precise questions, and converting ambiguous requests into concrete interfaces. The ability to manage concurrent tasks while preserving context across extended investigations and design discussions is required. Clear communication in English, both written and verbal, is necessary to adjust detail level for technical and non-technical audiences. You must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship at this time. A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field is required. Proficiency in version control, debugging, and performance analysis is expected as a baseline competency. You must be able to pass background checks and meet defense industry compliance standards. Reliability, ownership, and a bias for action are non-negotiable traits for this position.

Nice to have

Familiarity with simulation tools that model urban scenarios and complex operational conditions is advantageous.

Technical Skills and Tools

Proficiency with Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT, X-BAT, and Aechelon is expected. You will utilize Git, Python, C++, Linux, and containerized workflows in daily tasks. Experience with real-time data streaming frameworks and message buses is highly relevant. Knowledge of container orchestration platforms will support your ability to deploy services in varied environments. You will work with logging, monitoring, and telemetry tools to ensure system health and performance visibility. Comfort with command-line interfaces and scripting will allow you to automate repetitive tasks and accelerate debugging. Understanding of cybersecurity best practices is beneficial given the sensitivity of defense-related workloads. You will engage with issue tracking systems to ensure that defects and enhancements are properly documented and resolved. Your role will require participation in agile development ceremonies and cross-functional coordination.

Important Notes

Verify all details on the official application page.

What you'll do

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve integration challenges.
• Implement unit tests and integration tests to validate new functionality.
• Analyze logs and telemetry to identify root causes of in-flight anomalies.
• Optimize data processing paths to reduce latency and resource utilization.
• Participate in code reviews to maintain high standards of quality and consistency.
• Support the creation of technical proposals and architectural diagrams.
• Assist in the preparation of demonstration materials for internal and external stakeholders.
• Track progress against sprint goals and communicate status clearly.
• Explore emerging technologies that could enhance autonomous pilot capabilities.
• Mentor junior engineers through code reviews and pair programming sessions.
• Contribute to open source components where aligned with company policy.

Requirements

• Meet the bar
• Demonstrate hands-on experience with at least one systems programming language.
• Show evidence of debugging complex distributed systems in production-like environments.
• Maintain strict adherence to timelines and delivery commitments.
• Exhibit strong problem-solving skills when faced with incomplete or evolving requirements.
• Display resilience when working under pressure in fast-paced operational contexts.
• Commit to continuous learning and professional development in relevant domains.
• Align with company values around safety, integrity, and customer focus.

About the company

Shield AI, Inc. is an American aerospace and defense technology company based in San Diego, California. The company develops autonomous systems for military and commercial applications, focusing on AI-powered drones and aircraft.