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Posted June 8, 2026. The role appears to have been filled or removed. Check out similar open roles below.

Senior Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration

Shield AI
Washington, US
On-site

Who this role is best for

Aimed at senior engineers who drive technical direction across multiple programs and want to see their autonomy code operate in real-world defense applications.

Best fit for

  • Senior engineers who enjoy hands-on coding and real-world system deployment.
    — “It's a hands-on role for engineers who like seeing their code operate in the real world”
  • Technical leaders who can anticipate and drive evolution in autonomy stacks.
    — “anticipating where the autonomy stack needs to evolve”
  • Subject-matter experts sought out for solving ambiguous problems in unknown spaces.
    — “serve as the subject-matter expert other teams seek out on hard, ambiguous problems in unknown solution spaces”

Things to consider

  • Role involves close collaboration with multiple teams and external vendors.
    — “partner closely with the Autonomy Capabilities and Perception teams, feature crews, and external platform integrators”
  • Position requires ownership of code from simulation to live test exercises.
    — “own it end-to-end from software-in-the-loop, to hardware-in-the-loop, to vehicle-in-the-loop, to live test exercise”

How to stand out

  • Demonstrate experience bridging R&D with deployment in autonomous systems.
    — “Our Autonomous Pilot Integration engineers bridge the gap between R&D and deployment”
  • Highlight leadership in driving cross-team improvements in rigor and process.
    — “drive cross-team improvements in rigor and process”
  • Showcase mentorship of senior engineers and team leads.
    — “mentor senior engineers and other team leads”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Senior

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • developed autonomy software
  • integrated and validated autonomy on real hardware
  • mentored senior engineers
Typical background
software engineeringautonomy systems

Skills & requirements

Required

Autonomy SoftwareMotion PlanningTacticsMulti-agent CoordinationSoftware-in-the-loopHardware-in-the-loop

Preferred

HivemindsdkVehicle ControlC2 Providers

Stack & domain

Autonomy SoftwareMotion PlanningTacticsTrack FusionHivemindsdkMission BehaviorsPlatform-specific ControlMulti-agent CoordinationContingenciesExecutive AutonomySoftware-in-the-loopHardware-in-the-loopVehicle-in-the-loopLive Test ExerciseFeature CrewsExternal Platform IntegratorsVehicle/autopilot Control VendorsC2 ProvidersLeadershipInfluenceCommunicationProblem-solvingTeamworkPrioritizationTechnical CommunicationStrategic ThinkingCross-team ImprovementsProcess ImprovementRepresentationStandards BodiesDefense-techAutonomous SystemsUnmanned PlatformsAirMaritimeSpaceEffects/expendablesU.s. Department Of DefenseInternational Defense Customers

About the role

Original posting from Shield AI via Lever

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. 

The Autonomous Pilot Integration team builds autonomy solutions for a wide range of CONOPs and mission sets. We combine capabilities from the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team (e.g., track fusion), and the HivemindSDK to develop the autonomy software that runs on an unmanned platform — air, maritime, space, or effects/expendables, depending on the program — then integrate, validate, and field it on the real hardware. In this role, you'll write new autonomy code — such as mission behaviors, platform-specific control, multi-agent coordination, contingencies, and executive autonomy — and own it end-to-end from software-in-the-loop, to hardware-in-the-loop, to vehicle-in-the-loop, to live test exercise. You'll partner closely with the Autonomy Capabilities and Perception teams, feature crews, and external platform integrators (vehicle/autopilot control vendors, C2 providers). It's a hands-on role for engineers who like seeing their code operate in the real world — whether that's flying, sailing, orbiting, or downrange — and want to be there when it does. 

At this level, you'll own the technical direction across multiple programs — driving the autonomy reference implementation and common patterns that portfolios adopt, anticipating where the autonomy stack needs to evolve, adapting as programs and priorities shift, and aligning with engineering leadership early. You'll serve as the subject-matter expert other teams seek out on hard, ambiguous problems in unknown solution spaces; mentor senior engineers and other team leads; drive cross-team improvements in rigor and process; and represent the team to engineering leadership, customer/program offices, and standards bodies. 

Shield AI is committed to developing cutting-edge autonomy for unmanned platforms across every operating domain — air, maritime, space, and effects/expendables — in service of the U.S. Department of Defense and our international defense customers. Our Autonomous Pilot Integration engineers bridge the gap between R&D and deployment, ensuring autonomous systems function reliably and effectively wherever and whenever they're needed most.

Source: Shield AI careers (Lever)

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