Jobs at Shield AI

Design and develop primary and secondary structural components for a next-generation UAV. Perform CAD modeling, hand calculations, limited FEA, generate drawings and documentation, support validation and testing, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and iterate hardware through manufacturing and flight tests.

Design and develop primary and secondary structural components for a next-generation UAV platform from concept through production. Create CAD models and drawings, perform hand calculations and basic FEA, collaborate with cross-functional teams for system integration, support structural testing and validation, resolve manufacturing and flight-test issues, and produce engineering documentation in compliance with aerospace standards.

Design, develop, and field high-performance Ground Control Station and C2 software using C++/Qt/QML and QGroundControl. Lead architecture and technical direction, mentor engineers, define APIs/ICDs, debug integration/latency issues, support field tests, implement post-mission debrief tools, and ensure interoperability with C2 standards.

Perform operational analysis and M&S of autonomous aircraft across component, system, mission, and campaign levels. Build and run simulations (AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, Python), conduct force-on-force and sensitivity analyses, inform design trade-offs, engage DoD stakeholders, refine CONOPS, and produce technical reports and briefings to support product and customer decisions.

Lead and grow a team of autonomy engineers to stand up autonomy on novel platforms (space, maritime, rotorcraft), own delivery from design through fielding, write and integrate latency-sensitive autonomy code, coordinate with platform and cross-functional teams, support live tests and deployments, and evolve R&D efforts into longer-term programs.

Perform finite element modeling and structural analyses (static, modal, fatigue, vibration) for UAV airframes; validate FEA with hand calculations and test data; develop test plans, define load cases and material properties, optimize structures for weight and strength, and document technical recommendations.

Lead operational analyses, modeling, simulation, and wargaming to evaluate autonomous aircraft effectiveness, survivability, and mission impact. Build and run mission-level models (AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, Python), perform trade and sensitivity studies, collaborate with engineering/product and DoD stakeholders, develop CONOPS, document findings, and coach junior analysts.

Lead and grow a small autonomy engineering team to design, integrate, validate, and field autonomy software for launched effects. Own delivery, hiring, mentoring, technical direction, ICDs, pre-deployment validation, live test support, hardware/software debugging, and cross-team collaboration for multi-agent and air-gapped fleet deployments.

Perform FEA and hand calculations to evaluate and optimize UAV airframe structures. Conduct static, modal, fatigue, and vibration analyses, support structural test planning and data correlation, define loads and material properties, and produce structural analysis reports while collaborating with cross-functional engineering teams.

Lead and grow a 5–10 engineer autonomy integration team for V-BAT/X-BAT, owning delivery, hiring, mentoring, and technical health. Drive integration of autonomy software (mission behaviors, VTOL transitions, multi-agent coordination), collaborate tightly with aircraft, perception, and capability teams, run ICDs and field tests, and support live exercises and deployments (20–30% travel).

Lead integration, validation, and fielding of advanced weapon capabilities on X-Bat across the full lifecycle. Define system behaviors and architectures, coordinate cross-functional integration, support lab/ground/flight tests, perform troubleshooting and root-cause analysis to reduce integration risk and accelerate capability delivery.

Lead product definition, roadmap, and adoption for the CTOs agentic AI portfolio. Translate strategy into requirements, KPIs, and milestones; run discovery, prioritize backlogs, instrument usage, and shepherd incubation-to-handoff for AI/dev platforms and foundation-model tooling.

Lead top-of-funnel talent discovery for aircraft/hardware engineering roles: market-mapping, advanced sourcing (LinkedIn Recruiter, HireEZ, ClearanceJobs, GitHub), candidate engagement, pipeline building, coaching recruiters, cross-functional partnership, and data-driven optimization of outreach and conversion.

Own and maintain native C++ build systems for autonomous aircraft. Improve developer velocity by reducing build/test cycle time, integrate CI with HIL and simulation, implement monitoring and alerts, troubleshoot build/test failures, and collaborate with engineers to design and deploy DevEx/DevOps solutions.

Lead design and delivery of flight-critical power electronics for the X-BAT aircraft, including inverters, DC-DC converters, and battery management. Own full hardware development cycle, drive PCB layout, harden designs for harsh environments, mentor engineers, lead reviews, and manage program timelines through production.

Build and scale Shield AI's corporate treasury: manage global cash positioning, liquidity forecasting, FX risk mitigation, banking relationships, debt covenant compliance, intercompany funding, and treasury controls while partnering with FP&A, Accounting, Legal, and Tax.

Design, implement, and deploy safety-critical navigation and state estimation systems for aerospace platforms. Develop EKF and GNSS/INS integration, multi-sensor fusion for GPS-denied environments, FDIR and integrity monitoring, and V&V test plans. Support certification, requirements allocation, performance analysis, flight test evaluation, and provide technical leadership and mentoring.

Define and operationalize company-wide engineering design standards for aerospace programs (VBAT, XBAT). Standardize CAD, drawing quality, design/analysis workflows, documentation, EBOM/MBOM handoffs, and configuration management. Partner with engineering leaders to scale engineering excellence, influence cross-discipline design decisions, and improve consistency without blocking execution.

Integrate, characterize, calibrate, and validate multi-modal navigation sensors (IMUs, GNSS, cameras, altimeters). Develop test plans, calibration scripts, and data-processing tools; collaborate across electrical, mechanical, and software teams; support schematics, CAD, drivers, and lab-based sensor testing through production.

Lead architecture, development, and validation of end-to-end aircraft fuel systems. Drive cross-functional integration, system-level modeling (CFD), verification, supplier qualification, ground and flight test support, anomaly root-cause analysis, and mentor engineering teams while contributing to long-term fuel-system technology roadmaps.