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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.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Manager of Vehicle Engineering to lead the design and development of scalable, high-quality software solutions for the VBAT and XBAT programs. In this role, you will define architectural standards, guide engineering teams, evaluate technologies, and ensure that our systems are robust, secure, and aligned with long-term business goals.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Design and document end-to-end software architecture for complex aircraft and ground station systems.
- Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
- Establish architecture guidelines, coding standards, and best practices across development teams.
- Evaluate and recommend tools, frameworks, and platforms that support product scalability and performance.
- Create architectural diagrams, system models, data flows, and integration patterns.
- Conduct technical reviews and provide mentorship to engineering teams to ensure architectural alignment.
- Lead prototyping efforts to validate new technologies and architectural approaches.
- Ensure security, compliance, and performance considerations are integrated into design decisions.
- Troubleshoot critical issues and guide teams in resolving architectural bottlenecks.
- Stay updated on emerging trends in software engineering, cloud technologies, and system design.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
- 10+ years of software development experience, with at least 3 years in a senior or architectural role.
- Strong expertise in one or more programming languages (e.g., Java, C++, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript).
- Proven experience designing aircraft software systems for both safety critical and secure applications
- Proficiency in CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and infrastructure-as-code tools.
- Excellent communication and documentation skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
- Background in high-availability, high-throughput systems.
- Knowledge of DOD reference architectures.
- Prior experience in leading cross-functional technical initiatives.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking.
- Comfortable presenting technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strategic mindset with a focus on long-term system sustainability.
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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