Chief Engineer, Autonomy (r4614)

Shield AI Shield AI · Defense · Washington, DC +2 · Chief Engineers

Chief Engineer role focused on developing and deploying advanced autonomy solutions for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) within the defense industry. The role involves leading a team, defining technical objectives, and ensuring the quality of technical deliverables for both internal R&D and government contracts.

What you'd actually do

  1. Serve as the Chief Engineer on Shield AI projects focused on developing and deploying autonomy solutions for unmanned aircraft
  2. Lead a team responsible for advancing Hivemind Autonomy and shaping Department of Defense (DoD) autonomy architectures.
  3. Define and assign technical objectives, make key engineering decisions, and ensure the quality and completeness of all technical deliverables
  4. Provide technical leadership and oversight across both Internal Research and Development (IRAD) initiatives and DoD contracts.

Skills

Required

  • BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree
  • 10+ years of industry experience in autonomy and/or UAS platforms
  • 7+ years of delivering software into production/certifiable environments with high-reliability
  • Understanding of guidance, control and navigation (GNC)
  • Understanding of robotics stack
  • Understanding of software development processes and how to effectively deploy software
  • Experience defining technical scope and managing technical requirements, product architectures, ICDs and other system level design documentation
  • Demonstrate problem solving skills by applying a scientific technical approach
  • Customer-facing engineering leader supporting both defense and internally funded development programs
  • Contribute to government contract proposal writing
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Excellent leadership skills, driving a team of 6-20 engineers

What the JD emphasized

  • delivering software into production/certifiable environments with high-reliability
  • Customer-facing engineering leader
  • excellent leadership skills, driving a team of 6-20 engineers

Other signals

  • deploying advanced autonomy solutions on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
  • integration of Hivemind Autonomy across a range of aircraft
  • delivering cutting-edge autonomous capabilities for business-to-business and defense contracts