We’re looking for a software engineer to develop internal tools that directly accelerate the development of some of the most cutting-edge aircraft in the defense industry. In this role, you’ll partner closely with engineers across disciplines to design, build, and support a wide range of tooling — from lightweight automation scripts and macros to more robust frameworks and platforms. These solutions will be deeply embedded in daily workflows and represent some of the highest-impact software at the company, enabling teams to move faster, make better decisions, and bring advanced capabilities to life more efficiently.
What you'll do:
- Own software development from design through deployment for a range of internal tools, as an independent developer operating within a broader organization.
- Integrate diverse engineering systems, including electronic design automation, computer-aided design, and product lifecycle management tools.
- Embed with teams such as electrical engineering and production automation to incubate new projects and develop elegant solutions to difficult problems.
- Use databases, scripts, services, and application packaging to deploy software across multiple platforms.
- Improve existing frameworks and tools by adding features, fixing bugs, and enhancing maintainability.
- Use AI assisted tools and workflows to accelerate development.
Required qualifications:
- 5+ years of software development experience.
- Proficiency in Python, C++, JavaScript, and SQL.
- Experience designing, building, and supporting internal tools used by engineering, manufacturing, or operations teams.
- Experience with database schema design and analysis.
- Experience building automated package build and deployment pipelines (CI/CD).
- Experience with containerization technologies (Docker).
- Experience with cloud platforms (Azure, GCP, AWS).
Skills Required
- 5+ years of software development experience.
- Proficiency in Python.
- Proficiency in C++.
- Proficiency in JavaScript.
- Proficiency in SQL.
- Experience designing, building, and supporting internal tools for engineering, manufacturing, or operations teams.
- Experience with database schema design and analysis.
- Experience building automated package build and deployment pipelines (CI/CD).
- Experience with containerization technologies (Docker).
- Experience with cloud platforms (Azure, GCP, AWS).
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials describe excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage alongside a mental‑health EAP. Site perks such as an onsite gym in DC and a gym discount in San Diego support a health‑focused offering.
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Retirement Support — Careers materials highlight a 401(k) with company match as part of the standard package. A Total Rewards overview emphasizes retirement features within a broader, transparent compensation view.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Compensation for in‑demand technical and senior go‑to‑market roles is described as competitive, with visible engineering ranges and top‑end packages. This points to meaningful upside tied to role, level, and scarce skills.
Shield AI Insights
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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Shield AI Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
