Senior Director of Engineering, Software Operations

About Shield AI

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its flagship autonomy software, Hivemind, powers aircraft, drones, and other platforms, enabling complex missions with high reliability in contested environments. With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and internationally, Shield AI’s products actively support U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn,Twitter, and Instagram.

Shield AI is seeking an expert software engineer and world-class leader to scale and guide our Software Operations team as we move our Hivemind teams toward the next productization phase. The Software Operations team is chartered with managing the build, release, configuration management, developer experience, quality assurance, and deployment of the Hivemind Enterprise product offering. As the leader of this team, you will oversee the delivery of an excellent Hivemind Enterprise product.

Shield AI is seeking an expert software engineer and inspirational senior leader who embodies Shield AI’s mission and values while scaling and guiding our Software Operations within the Hivemind Division. The Hivemind Software Operations team is a multidisciplinary unit chartered with managing the build, release, configuration management, developer experience, quality assurance, and deployment of the Hivemind software product. The team is dedicated to ensuring maximum efficiency of the team and delivering best-in-class software releases for both internal and external customers. As a new and growing team in our Hivemind Division, we are looking for an exceptional software engineer and visionary leader to spearhead and elevate this team. 

The Hivemind Software Operations team will manage the entire lifecycle of our Hivemind software product. This leader will oversee the development and delivery of edge middleware and autonomy (C++/CMake), edge command and control (React/Node/TypeScript), and the cloud autonomy development portal (React/Node/TypeScript). Responsibilities include orchestrating seamless builds and releases in Azure DevOps (ADO), fine-tuning configuration management, enhancing developer experiences, ensuring top-notch quality assurance, and orchestrating smooth deployments. The successful candidate’s leadership will be the driving force behind the delivery of an unparalleled Hivemind software product. 

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Core Operational Foundations: DevOps, QA, Build and Release Management 
• -Improve the overall Developer Experience
• -Solicit developer feedback and provide support 
• -Create game-changing developer tools 
• -Capture and optimize developer workflows and guidelines 
• -Oversee the Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment system 
• -Oversee Repository Management 
• -Drive the architecture for Build and Release 
• -Drive Quality Assurance for the final product delivery 




• Infrastructure and Compliance Expansion: Configuration Management, Security Operations, Platform Management 
• -Ensure the product has security in the design from the start 
• -Perform ongoing security assessments and compliance checks 
• -Advanced Stability and Performance: Site Reliability Engineering, Platform Engineering, Cloud Operations 




• Data and User-Centric Enhancements:
• -Data Operations, Customer Support 




• Developer and Operational Efficiency:
• -Performance Engineering 
• -Enhance Developer Experience through efficient workflows and tools

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• B.S. in Computer Science with 15+ years of work experience. Similar degree or equivalent practical experience acceptable.
• You have rock-solid fundamentals in software engineering and the software development life cycle.
• You have experience with CI tools and Linux systems.
• You have extensive expertise modern C++, make, modern web stacks, CI pipelines, and package deployment.
• You have demonstrated the ability to build, lead, train, and mentor a software engineering and/or a developer operations team at scale.
• You are a relentless learner who can comfortably develop the specialized knowledge necessary for tactical leadership of a small software engineering team, and the perspective required for strategic leadership of a large engineering team.
• You can recognize efficiency and inefficiency in software engineering processes; prioritize remedies based on accurate cost-benefit analysis; and then lead engineering teams through the design, development, deployment, and maintenance of the remedies. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with azure DevOps CI pipeline.
• Experience with Conan package management.
• Experience with Kubernetes.

Total package details for U.S. based positions:

- Regular employee positions: Salary within range listed above + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

- Temporary employee positions: Hourly within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days

of employment)

- Interns/Military Fellows/Part-time not eligible for bonus, benefits or equity

Total package details for International positions which are roles based outside of the United States (where applicable):

- International premium, hardship differential, cost of living differential, living quarters allowance, foreign service transfer

allowance, equity, international benefits, visa assistance, and relocation assistance.

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.

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.