2 months ago
Base Salary
$281k - $421k/yr
Responsibilities
- Design tactical autonomy algorithms for unmanned aircraft performing complex missions with minimal human supervision.
- Develop high-performance software for planning, decision-making, and behavior execution in dynamic and adversarial environments.
- Implement and test behavior architectures supporting multi-agent coordination, target engagement, reconnaissance, and survivability.
- Blend classical autonomy and machine-learning approaches, including rule-based systems and reinforcement learning.
- Collaborate with perception, planning, simulation, hardware, and flight-test teams to integrate autonomy solutions on real-world platforms.
- Deploy autonomy capabilities to real platforms and participate in field tests and flight demonstrations.
- Analyze mission logs and performance data to diagnose failures and optimize behavior models.
- Research and prototype algorithms, identify tactical capability gaps, and contribute to the autonomy roadmap.
- Adapt autonomy solutions to evolving defense mission sets, compliance requirements, and customer feedback.
- Travel approximately 10–15% of the year to offices, customer sites, and flight-integration events.
Requirements
- A BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a similar field, or equivalent practical experience.
- At least 10 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree, 9 years with a master’s degree, 7 years with a PhD, or equivalent work experience.
- Proficiency in C++ and Python and familiarity with real-time operating systems.
- Significant experience with robotics technologies involving motion planning, behavior modeling, decision-making, or autonomous-system design.
- Significant experience with unmanned-system technologies and algorithms, particularly in the air domain.
- Experience with simulation tools and environments such as AFSIM and NGTS for testing and validation.
- Ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance in complex multidisciplinary environments.
- Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.
- Experience applying machine learning and reinforcement-learning techniques in autonomy pipelines is preferred.
- Experience with collaborative behaviors, swarm robotics, distributed decision-making, DoD or government tactical behaviors, cross-domain unmanned vehicles, flight demonstrations, live exercises, UCI, and OMS Standards is preferred.
Benefits
- Full-time regular employees receive pay within the listed range plus bonus, benefits, and equity.
- Temporary employees receive pay within the listed range plus applicable temporary benefits after 60 days of employment.
- Offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
- The position is full-time and typically requires 10–15% travel.
About Shield AI
Shield AI builds autonomous systems for military and national security customers, combining its Hivemind autonomy software with V-BAT and X-BAT unmanned aircraft and Aechelon simulation technologies. The privately held company sells hardware, software, and related services to U.S. and allied defense agencies. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Diego, it operates across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, and its technology is used in operational deployments.