HOME Software Engineering & Dev Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration – Weapons (R5400)
  • Shieldai
  • Washington, DC
  • Full-Time
  • 75 days ago
  • $195,200–$292,800
Shieldai VERIFIED EMPLOYER

Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration – Weapons (R5400).

Software Engineering & Dev Full-Time

Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration – Weapons (R5400): our view in 3 lines...

  • The Role:This is a staff software engineering role for someone building and integrating autonomy software for launched effects platforms in a defense-tech environment.
  • The Person:The person will lead technical delivery of autonomy capabilities, integrate and validate software on real hardware, and own complex problems across platform integration, fleet operations, and operational deployment.
  • Requirements:The posting explicitly mentions autonomy software, motion planning, tactics, track fusion, HivemindSDK, platform-specific control, multi-agent coordination, contingencies, executive autonomy, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, and vehicle-in-the-loop.

About the role

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

The Autonomous Pilot Integration team for launched effects builds autonomy solutions for small, often air- or ground-launched platforms that operate in multi-agent fleets and frequently in disconnected or air-gapped environments. We combine capabilities from the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team (e.g., track fusion), and the HivemindSDK to develop the autonomy software that runs on launched effects platforms, then integrate, validate, and field it on the real hardware—for U.S. and international defense customers. Our engineers write new autonomy code—such as mission behaviors, platform-specific control, multi-agent coordination, contingencies, and executive autonomy—and own it end-to-end from software-in-the-loop, to hardware-in-the-loop, to vehicle-in-the-loop, to live test exercise. 

In this role, you'll lead the technical delivery of complex autonomy capabilities spanning platform integration, fleet operations, and operational deployment. You'll own some of the team's most challenging technical problems while driving technical direction across multiple subsystems and collaborating closely with the Autonomy Capabilities team, Perception, feature crews, autopilot vendors, C2 providers, and customer partners. You'll combine deep technical expertise with systems thinking to deliver scalable autonomy solutions for fleet-scale operations. 

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Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
 
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
 
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
 
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 
Published July 21, 2026
Location Washington, DC
Job Type Full-Time