What you'll do:
- Tactical Autonomy Design – Design tactical autonomy algorithms to enable unmanned aircraft to perform complex missions across air, land, and sea domains with minimal human supervision.
- High-Performance Software Development – Develop high-performance software modules that incorporate planning, decision-making, and behavior execution strategies for dynamic and adversarial environments.
- Behavior Architecture Implementation – Implement and test behavior architectures that enable multi-agent coordination, target engagement, reconnaissance, and survivability in contested scenarios.
- Hybrid Autonomy Integration – Work at the intersection of classical autonomy and machine learning, blending rule-based systems with learning-based methods such as reinforcement learning to achieve robust, adaptive behavior.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration – Collaborate with cross-functional teams including perception, planning, simulation, hardware, and flight test to ensure seamless integration of autonomy solutions on real-world platforms.
- Deployment & Field Testing – Deploy autonomy capabilities to real platforms and participate in field tests and flight demos, validating performance in operationally relevant conditions.
- Mission Data Analysis – Analyze mission logs and performance data to diagnose failures, optimize behavior models, and inform iterative development.
- R&D and Roadmapping – Contribute to the autonomy roadmap by researching and prototyping new algorithms, identifying tactical capability gaps, and proposing novel solutions that advance Shield AI’s mission.
- Program Support & Adaptation – Support defense-focused programs and customer needs by adapting autonomy solutions to evolving mission sets, compliance requirements, and operational feedback.
- Travel Requirement – Members of this team typically travel around 10-15% of the year (to different office locations, customer sites, and flight integration events).
Required Qualifications:
- BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience
- Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years and a Master’s degree; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as C++ and Python, and familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
- Significant background in robotics technologies related to motion planning, behavior modeling, decision-making, or autonomous system design.
- Significant experience with unmanned system technologies and accompanying algorithms (specifically air domain)
- Experience with simulation tools and environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) for testing and validation.
- Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance.
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
- Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience applying ML/RL techniques in autonomy pipelines.
- Background in collaborative behaviors, swarm robotics, or distributed decision-making.
- Familiarity with tactical behaviors for unmanned systems in DoD or government programs.
- Work on behaviors applicable across air, ground, and maritime vehicles.
- Hands-on experience supporting flight demos or live exercises.
- Experience with UCI and OMS Standards
Skills Required
- BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering or equivalent experience
- Minimum experience: typically 10 years with BS; 9 years with MS; 7 years with PhD (or equivalent)
- Proficiency in C++
- Proficiency in Python
- Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS)
- Significant background in robotics: motion planning, behavior modeling, decision-making, or autonomous system design
- Experience with unmanned system technologies and algorithms (air domain)
- Experience with simulation tools/environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) for testing and validation
- Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and system optimization skills
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills for multidisciplinary collaboration
- Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance
- Experience applying ML/RL techniques in autonomy pipelines
- Background in collaborative behaviors, swarm robotics, or distributed decision-making
- Familiarity with tactical behaviors for unmanned systems in DoD or government programs
- Hands-on experience supporting flight demos or live exercises
- Experience with UCI and OMS Standards
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
At Shield AI, you won't wait years to see your work reach the field. You'll build hardware and software that operates in the real world right now, in the hands of the people who depend on it. Hivemind, our AI pilot, has been flying since 2018. It has flown more than 30 platforms, including an F-16, and it now sits under a U.S. Air Force production contract for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. When you write code or shape a system here, you contribute to technology with a proven flight record and a clear production future. V-BAT flies intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with an operational record that stretches from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific. It delivers eyes where they matter most, in the most demanding conditions on earth. The teams behind it watch their work get tested where the stakes are real. X-BAT takes its first flight this year. It's an AI-piloted fighter that needs no runway, built to operate where traditional aircraft can't. Join now and you help shape a program at its earliest, most formative stage. That's the kind of ground-floor work that defines a career. Do the most impactful work of your life, on problems that matter. Autonomy at this level asks a lot of you. You'll take on problems in perception, planning, and control that few teams anywhere are equipped to solve. You'll work across disciplines, from aerospace and robotics to machine learning and systems engineering, alongside people who hold themselves to an exacting standard and expect the same from you. Our mission is clear: protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. That purpose runs through every decision, every design review, and every deployment. It's why the work here carries a weight you can feel. Ready to join our mission? Explore our open roles and find where you fit.
Why Work With Us
Founded in 2015 by a former Navy SEAL, Shield AI builds AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft. Veterans aren't an afterthought here, they're at every level. It's why the work carries weight: AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft flying real missions, from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific, protecting service members and civilians.
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Shield AI Teams
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Shield AI Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
