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Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.
The Role
Develop and implement real-time sensor processing and multi-sensor state estimation algorithms (IMU, radar, cameras, GPS). Design pipelines, run field tests, integrate with cross-functional teams, and optimize for production on compute-constrained systems.
Summary Generated by Built In
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and 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.
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company whose mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. In pursuit of this mission, Shield AI is building the world’s best AI pilot. Its AI pilot, Hivemind, has flown a fighter jet (F-16), a vertical takeoff and landing drone (X-BAT), and a quadcopter (Nova). The company has offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington DC and abroad. Shield AI’s products and people are currently in the field actively supporting operations with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. allies. As a State Estimation Engineer, you will work on the GNC team to develop and optimize algorithms that process and fuse data from various sensors to provide accurate, reliable state estimates, enabling the X-BAT to operate autonomously in complex and contested environments.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Develop and implement advanced sensor algorithms for processing data from IMUs, radar, cameras, GPS, and other sensors.
- Enhance state estimation algorithms by integrating multi-sensor data for improved accuracy and robustness.
- Design and implement real-time sensor data processing pipelines.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, autonomy researchers, and hardware engineers, to ensure seamless integration of state estimation algorithms.
- Conduct experiments and field tests to validate the performance of state estimation algorithms in real-world scenarios.
- Stay updated with the latest advancements in sensor technologies and state estimation , applying them to our systems.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 4 years and a Master’s degree; or 2 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
- Experience developing and deploying real-time sensor processing algorithms, e.g. with cameras, radar, IMUs, GPS, etc.
- Solid understanding of state estimation techniques, such as Kalman filters, particle filters, etc.
- Experience with C++ 11 or newer
- Experience with Linux, command line tools, etc.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders.
- Proven track record of successfully shipping products, showcasing the ability to navigate through development cycles, overcome obstacles, and deliver high-quality solutions to meet project deadlines and exceed expectations in a fast-paced environment.
- You have a demonstrated record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others.
- Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience in implementing inertial navigation algorithms on real-time processing systems
- Knowledge of computer vision techniques
- Proficiency in optimizing algorithms for compute-constrained systems
- Experience with CUDA or other hardware acceleration technologies (e.g. FPGAs)
- Proven track record of transitioning from R&D to production
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.
Skills Required
- Minimum of 5 years related experience with a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent alternate degree/experience combinations)
- Experience developing and deploying real-time sensor processing algorithms (cameras, radar, IMUs, GPS)
- Solid understanding of state estimation techniques (Kalman filters, particle filters)
- Experience with C++11 or newer
- Experience with Linux and command line tools
- Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams
- Proven track record of successfully shipping products from development to production
- Demonstrated strong teamwork, high standards, and professional integrity
- Ability to obtain S//SAR level security clearance
- Experience implementing inertial navigation algorithms on real-time processing systems
- Knowledge of computer vision techniques
- Proficiency optimizing algorithms for compute-constrained systems
- Experience with CUDA or other hardware acceleration technologies (e.g., FPGAs)
- Proven track record transitioning solutions from R&D to production
What the Team is Saying
Dylan
Lead Engineer, Planning and Controls-Motion
Mo
Lead Engineer, Platform Automation
Willy
Technical Director
Michael
Engineering Manager - State Estimation
Vibhav
Senior Staff Engineer
Kirby
Mechanical Engineer
Ryan
CEO
Evan
Senior Machine Learning Engineer
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.
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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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Shield AI Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
Typical time on-site:
3 days a week
