The Systems & Platform Integration team serves as the engineering bridge between Hivemind autonomy and operational platforms across Shield AI’s Expeditionary and Emerging Operations portfolio. Our mission is to rapidly enable new platform adoption by developing the software interfaces, configurations, and integration frameworks required to connect autonomy with vehicle systems, sensors, payloads, mission computers, and communications systems.
As a Software Integration Engineer (L1), you will work alongside experienced engineers to develop the software interfaces that connect Hivemind with real-world platforms. You will gain hands-on experience writing C++ integration software, working with device and vehicle interfaces, configuring Linux-based mission computers, and troubleshooting data flow across distributed systems. You will support integration and validation activities across Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Vehicle-in-the-Loop (VIL), lab, and field environments.
What you'll do:
- Develop C++ software interfaces between Hivemind and sensors, flight controllers, payloads, radios, and vehicle systems.
- Build and maintain interface blocks, platform adapters, and middleware components.
- Integrate data from sensors and vehicle systems into autonomy software.
- Implement and debug communication interfaces using protocols such as MAVLink, serial, TCP/UDP, and multicast.
- Configure and deploy software on Linux-based mission computers.
- Support SIL, HIL, VIL, and lab integration testing.
- Develop Python scripts and tools for testing, configuration, data analysis, and troubleshooting.
- Debug issues involving software interfaces, data formats, timing, networking, configuration, and system behavior.
- Work with autonomy, systems, test, and flight teams to integrate and validate software on new platforms.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent practical experience may be considered.
- Programming experience in C++ through coursework, projects, research, or student teams.
- Familiarity with Linux and basic software debugging.
- Understanding of basic programming concepts such as classes, data structures, interfaces, and object-oriented programming.
- Interest in robotics, embedded software, distributed systems, autonomy, or aerospace systems.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with robotics or engineering teams such as FIRST Robotics.
- Familiarity with ROS/ROS 2, ArduPilot, PX4, MAVLink, or similar frameworks and protocols.
- Experience with CMake, Git, Docker, or other C++ development tools.
- Familiarity with serial, CAN, TCP/UDP, multicast, or other communication interfaces.
- Experience working with sensors, flight controllers, embedded systems, or mission computers.
- Coursework or projects involving robotics, embedded systems, networking, controls, or autonomous systems.
- Python experience for scripting, testing, or data analysis.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent practical experience may be considered.
- Programming experience in C++ through coursework, projects, research, or student teams.
- Familiarity with Linux and basic software debugging.
- Understanding of classes, data structures, interfaces, and object-oriented programming.
- Interest in robotics, embedded software, distributed systems, autonomy, or aerospace systems.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
- Experience with robotics or engineering teams such as FIRST Robotics.
- Familiarity with ROS/ROS 2, ArduPilot, PX4, MAVLink, or similar frameworks and protocols.
- Experience with CMake, Git, Docker, or other C++ development tools.
- Familiarity with serial, CAN, TCP/UDP, multicast, or other communication interfaces.
- Experience working with sensors, flight controllers, embedded systems, or mission computers.
- Coursework or projects involving robotics, embedded systems, networking, controls, or autonomous systems.
- Python experience for scripting, testing, or data analysis.
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials highlight comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with mental-health support and an EAP. Third-party benefits summaries also portray health coverage as a strong component of the package.
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Retirement Support — Offerings include a 401(k) with employer matching, cited on the careers page and independent benefits directories. Multiple sources indicate a match exists, though exact formulas have varied over time and warrant confirmation.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Company communications describe equity for all full-time hires and stock benefits as part of total rewards. Independent listings also note company equity/RSUs as a standard element.
Shield AI Insights
What We Do
At Shield AI, you won't wait years to see your work reach the field. You'll build hardware and software that operates in the real world right now, in the hands of the people who depend on it. Hivemind, our AI pilot, has been flying since 2018. It has flown more than 30 platforms, including an F-16, and it now sits under a U.S. Air Force production contract for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. When you write code or shape a system here, you contribute to technology with a proven flight record and a clear production future. V-BAT flies intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with an operational record that stretches from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific. It delivers eyes where they matter most, in the most demanding conditions on earth. The teams behind it watch their work get tested where the stakes are real. X-BAT takes its first flight this year. It's an AI-piloted fighter that needs no runway, built to operate where traditional aircraft can't. Join now and you help shape a program at its earliest, most formative stage. That's the kind of ground-floor work that defines a career. Do the most impactful work of your life, on problems that matter. Autonomy at this level asks a lot of you. You'll take on problems in perception, planning, and control that few teams anywhere are equipped to solve. You'll work across disciplines, from aerospace and robotics to machine learning and systems engineering, alongside people who hold themselves to an exacting standard and expect the same from you. Our mission is clear: protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. That purpose runs through every decision, every design review, and every deployment. It's why the work here carries a weight you can feel. Ready to join our mission? Explore our open roles and find where you fit.
Why Work With Us
Founded in 2015 by a former Navy SEAL, Shield AI builds AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft. Veterans aren't an afterthought here, they're at every level. It's why the work carries weight: AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft flying real missions, from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific, protecting service members and civilians.
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Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
