1 year ago
Base Salary
$234k - $351k/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 rule-based autonomy with machine learning and reinforcement learning methods.
- Collaborate with perception, planning, simulation, hardware, and flight-test teams to integrate autonomy onto real-world platforms.
- Deploy autonomy capabilities to operational 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.
Requirements
- A BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a similar discipline, 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 systems and related algorithms, specifically in the air domain.
- Experience with simulation tools such as AFSIM or NGTS for testing and validation.
- Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and system-performance optimization skills.
- Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.
- Experience applying machine learning or reinforcement learning techniques in autonomy pipelines is preferred.
- Experience with collaborative behaviors, swarm robotics, distributed decision-making, tactical behaviors, cross-domain unmanned systems, flight demonstrations, live exercises, UCI, or OMS Standards is preferred.
Benefits
- Full-time regular employees receive pay within the listed range, bonus, benefits, and equity.
- Temporary employees receive pay within the listed range and a temporary benefits package applicable after 60 days of employment.
- The role typically requires 10–15% travel to office locations, customer sites, and flight integration events.
- Offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
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.