2 days ago
San Mateo, CA, USAStaff+
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
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, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.