The Future Concepts team plays a critical role in shaping next-generation technical concepts and solutions for Hivemind applications across multiple domains. Working closely with Product, Engineering, Architecture, and customer-facing teams, Future Concepts Engineers turn emerging technologies, operational needs, and novel ideas into detailed concepts and models. In this role, you will drive innovation by blending creativity with robust technical expertise. You will explore new applications for Hivemind and use data-driven analysis to assess alternatives and inform decisions. By contributing to white papers, proposals, and technical presentations, you will help shape the future roadmap for Hivemind and ensure that it remains on the cutting edge of advanced autonomy and AI.
The ideal candidate for this role is a curious problem-solver who can generate original ideas and make them technically credible. If you thrive on collaboration, enjoy engaging with customers, and possess a strong foundation in engineering, you’ll find a dynamic environment here for developing transformative solutions that push the boundaries of Hivemind’s evolving portfolio.
What you'll do:
- Develop technology-driven future concepts for Hivemind applications across air, space, land, and maritime domains.
- Translate emerging customer needs, operational challenges, and technology trends into compelling and technically credible concepts and mission-oriented use cases for autonomous systems.
- Produce concept studies, analytical reports, white papers, RFIs, proposals, and other high-quality technical artifacts to explore how future capabilities could create value.
- Use quantitative programming or analysis tools to organize data, build models, and communicate results.
- Generate and deliver clear technical briefings for internal and external audiences, adapting complex material for both technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
- Collaborate with Product, Engineering, Architecture, and Go-To-Market teams to align future concepts with technical roadmaps and early-stage product development.
- Monitor developments in aerospace, defense, autonomy, robotics, and related technologies to identify new opportunities and challenges.
- Travel to customer sites as needed to support engagements, gather insights, and present concepts and analysis.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, operations research, data science, or another relevant quantitative field.
- 2+ years of experience in engineering, technical analysis, concept development, modeling and simulation, product management, or a related area.
- Demonstrated ability to use qualitative and quantitative analysis to support technical decision-making.
- Ability to explain complex material clearly to both technical and nontechnical audiences through written products and verbal briefings.
- Strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills, including the ability to apply creativity and collaboration to ambiguous or evolving problems.
- Experience with at least one quantitative programming, modeling, or analysis tool, such as Python, MATLAB, C++, or similar.
- Familiarity with aerospace, autonomy, robotics, or defense systems.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a USG security clearance.
Preferred qualifications:
- Master's degree in a relevant quantitative or technical field.
- Experience developing novel concepts, models, or analytical artifacts to explore complex technical questions.
- Familiarity with trade studies, modeling and simulation, sensitivity analysis, data visualization, or other structured approaches to comparing technical alternatives.
- Experience briefing customers, executives, operators, government stakeholders, or other decision-makers.
- Experience contributing to product roadmaps, white papers, RFIs, proposals, or customer-facing technical material.
- Prior military operations, mission analysis, or defense-industry experience.
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, operations research, data science, or another relevant quantitative field
- 2+ years of experience in engineering, technical analysis, concept development, modeling and simulation, product management, or a related area
- Ability to use qualitative and quantitative analysis for technical decision-making
- Ability to explain complex material to technical and nontechnical audiences through writing and verbal briefings
- Strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills, including creativity and collaboration in ambiguous situations
- Experience with a quantitative programming, modeling, or analysis tool such as Python, MATLAB, C++, or similar
- Familiarity with aerospace, autonomy, robotics, or defense systems
- Ability to obtain and maintain a USG security clearance
- Master's degree in a relevant quantitative or technical field
- Experience developing novel concepts, models, or analytical artifacts for complex technical questions
- Familiarity with trade studies, modeling and simulation, sensitivity analysis, data visualization, or structured technical comparison methods
- Experience briefing customers, executives, operators, government stakeholders, or other decision-makers
- Experience contributing to product roadmaps, white papers, RFIs, proposals, or customer-facing technical materials
- Prior military operations, mission analysis, or defense-industry experience
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as excellent, with dental/vision and mental‑health support, and ancillary protections like life and disability appearing in benefit summaries. The breadth and perceived affordability of coverage are highlighted as a standout component of the package.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is featured alongside enhanced maternity benefits, fertility and childcare support, and onsite resources such as a Mother’s Room. These elements are positioned as competitive and above the minimal baseline for the company’s stage.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity is granted to all full‑time hires, with RSUs, double‑trigger tax timing, and tools to model scenarios (e.g., through Carta Tax). Communications also reference a transition from options to RSUs, reinforcing access and maturity of ownership programs.
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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Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
