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Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.
The Role
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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.
Job Description:
Our 2026 Co-Op program is an excellent opportunity for rising 2026 graduates to gain deep, hands-on experience in a mission-driven and innovative engineering environment. This paid, full-time program spans multiple months during the academic year, offering extended immersion in real-world hardware development and testing.
Shield AI is seeking an exceptional Co-op candidate to join the team in building our autonomous aircraft. You will join a team of highly talented cross-functional engineers that exhibit a culture of mentorship, kindness, ownership, and hard work.
The ideal start date is June 2026, and the end date is flexible As a Mission Systems Engineering Co-op, you will support the integration of avionics, sensors, and mission payloads onto the V-BAT and our next-generation aircraft. You’ll work across hardware, software, and flight test environments to help bring real mission capabilities into the field.
This role is perfect for students who are hands-on, love building and debugging systems, and want exposure to the full lifecycle of aerospace hardware—from concept to flight testing.
Program is from June 2026 to December 2026.
What You'll Do:
- · Lead and assist in the full product lifecycle (integration and testing) of avionics, sensors, radios, and mission payloads on V-BAT aircraft
- · Lead rapid prototyping and 0→1 development efforts for new mission capabilities.
- · Support debug electrical, networking, and software-integration issues under the mentorship of senior engineers.
- · Build improvements to automate flight logs and test data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools and
- · Create schematics, wiring diagrams, system architecture, interface documentation, and test procedures.
- · Present in design reviews and collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and flight test teams.
Required qualifications:
- Background in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related hardware disciplines
- Demonstrated cross-functional experience (e.g., mechanical or electrical engineers with some exposure to software tools, or software students with hands-on hardware experience)
- Familiarity with system integration, basic prototyping, and interpreting engineering documentation (e.g., schematics, wiring diagrams, or CAD)
- Strong problem-solving abilities and a hands-on, iterative approach to engineering tasks
Preferred qualifications:
Experience with Python, MATLAB, or scripting for data analysis or test automation
Familiarity with embedded systems, firmware, or data interfaces
Exposure to mechanical or electrical CAD tools
Strong communication skills and experience working in multidisciplinary teams
#LI-SM1
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.
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Shield AI and has not been reviewed or approved by Shield AI.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as excellent, spanning medical, dental, vision, mental‑health EAP, and optional pet insurance. Location‑based wellness perks such as onsite or discounted gym access reinforce the health offering.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity is positioned as a standard component of total rewards for full‑time employees, with stock/RSUs noted across roles. Access appears broad‑based rather than limited to select cohorts.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time‑off programs highlight paid parental leave alongside an accrual‑based PTO structure with a high carryover cap. Flexibility elements such as flexible hours complement the core leave offering.
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The Company
What We Do
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.
Why Work With Us
What makes Shield AI special is our people. We unlock the power of autonomy, and in the face of overwhelming odds and challenges, we find ways to win and make a difference for our customers. We bring together software, AI, and aerospace engineering disciplines to deploy the most intelligent aviation capabilities in the world.
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