This is a hands-on leadership role that combines people management with technical execution across software, hardware, aircraft systems, and flight operations. The ideal candidate has strong software and systems-integration experience, develops high-performing engineers, and can lead complex work in fast-paced field environments.
This role will primarily support operations in the Kyiv region, with occasional travel to other locations within Ukraine.
What You'll Do
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Autonomy Software Integration & Test Engineers.
- Set technical priorities, assign resources, manage schedules, and ensure the team delivers against operational requirements.
- Guide the development and integration of autonomy software across fixed-wing, multirotor, and other unmanned systems.
- Provide technical direction for software bring-up, system configuration, troubleshooting, and mission readiness.
- Oversee simulation, SIL, HIL, VIL, ground-test, and live flight-test activities.
- Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis across software, onboard compute, networking, radios, sensors, flight controllers, and mission systems.
- Coordinate engineering support for demonstrations and operational test events, including pre-flight preparation and post-flight analysis.
- Partner with autonomy, systems, hardware, flight-test, and operational teams to integrate and validate new capabilities.
- Establish effective test procedures, integration workflows, documentation, and deployment-readiness standards.
- Remain technically engaged and contribute directly to development, integration, and field troubleshooting when needed.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- 5+ years of experience developing, integrating, or testing software for robotics, autonomy, aerospace, embedded systems, or a related field.
- Previous experience managing or leading engineering teams.
- Strong software-engineering experience in C++ and Python.
- Experience with Linux-based systems and hands-on hardware/software integration.
- Experience supporting field testing, flight testing, demonstrations, or operational exercises.
- Familiarity with MAVLink, PX4, ArduPilot, QGroundControl, or related unmanned-systems technologies.
- Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to operate independently in dynamic environments.
- Ability to travel within Ukraine as required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading teams supporting autonomous aircraft or unmanned systems.
- Experience with SIL, HIL, VIL, simulation, or flight-test environments.
- Familiarity with ROS, DDS, embedded systems, or real-time systems.
- Experience with flight controllers, avionics, RF communications, datalinks, or networking systems.
- Background in defense, robotics, aerospace, or autonomous systems.
- Ukrainian and English language proficiency.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent practical experience
- 5+ years of experience developing, integrating, or testing software for robotics, autonomy, aerospace, embedded systems, or a related field
- Previous experience managing or leading engineering teams
- Strong software-engineering experience in C++ and Python
- Experience with Linux-based systems and hands-on hardware/software integration
- Experience supporting field testing, flight testing, demonstrations, or operational exercises
- Familiarity with MAVLink, PX4, ArduPilot, QGroundControl, or related unmanned-systems technologies
- Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to operate independently in dynamic environments
- Ability to travel within Ukraine as required
- Experience leading teams supporting autonomous aircraft or unmanned systems
- Experience with SIL, HIL, VIL, simulation, or flight-test environments
- Familiarity with ROS, DDS, embedded systems, or real-time systems
- Experience with flight controllers, avionics, RF communications, datalinks, or networking systems
- Background in defense, robotics, aerospace, or autonomous systems
- Ukrainian and English language proficiency
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
-
Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as excellent, with dental/vision and mental‑health support, and ancillary protections like life and disability appearing in benefit summaries. The breadth and perceived affordability of coverage are highlighted as a standout component of the package.
-
Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is featured alongside enhanced maternity benefits, fertility and childcare support, and onsite resources such as a Mother’s Room. These elements are positioned as competitive and above the minimal baseline for the company’s stage.
-
Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity is granted to all full‑time hires, with RSUs, double‑trigger tax timing, and tools to model scenarios (e.g., through Carta Tax). Communications also reference a transition from options to RSUs, reinforcing access and maturity of ownership programs.
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.
Gallery
%203.jpg)
Shield AI Teams
.jpg)
Shield AI Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
