Senior Software Engineer, Autonomy Behaviors (r4588)

at Shield AI · Defense · Boston, MA +1 · Flight System Integration

Develops tactical autonomy software for unmanned platforms, enabling complex missions with limited human supervision. Focuses on multi-agent coordination, target engagement, and survivability in contested scenarios, contributing across the software development lifecycle and integrating with broader system architecture.

What you'd actually do

  1. Develop tactical autonomy software to enable unmanned platforms to perform complex missions across air, land, sea, and space domains with limited human supervision
  2. Implement and test behaviors supporting multi-agent coordination, target engagement, reconnaissance, and survivability in contested scenarios
  3. Contribute across the software development lifecycle, including requirements, design, implementation, verification, and validation, following established engineering best practices
  4. Collaborate with senior engineers to design and build scalable, maintainable software components that integrate with broader system architecture (e.g., sensor processing, state estimation, communications, and actuation)
  5. Support reuse and extensibility of autonomy behaviors by contributing to shared frameworks and codebases

Skills

Required

  • software engineering
  • robotics
  • control systems
  • optimization
  • data analysis
  • C++
  • Python

Nice to have

  • ROS
  • simulation
  • embedded systems

What the JD emphasized

  • limited human supervision
  • multi-agent coordination

Other signals

  • autonomous systems
  • mission autonomy software
  • multi-agent coordination
Read full job description

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

About The Team

The Autonomy Capabilities team at Shield AI has assembled a diverse team of experts in software, robotics, control systems, optimization, and data analysis to create software solutions that greatly evolve the capabilities of our customers. The team is responsible for developing autonomous behaviors within Shield AI’s industry-leading mission autonomy software stack and deploying them across a breadth of platforms, including the Anduril Fury, Northrup Grumman Talon, Shield AI V-Bat, and other first and third-party autonomous vehicles. We work in close coordination with specialist teams in software integration, hardware, and test engineering to solve some of the hardest problems facing our customers.

About the Job:

What You'll Do:

  • Develop tactical autonomy software to enable unmanned platforms to perform complex missions across air, land, sea, and space domains with limited human supervision
  • Implement and test behaviors supporting multi-agent coordination, target engagement, reconnaissance, and survivability in contested scenarios
  • Contribute across the software development lifecycle, including requirements, design, implementation, verification, and validation, following established engineering best practices
  • Collaborate with senior engineers to design and build scalable, maintainable software components that integrate with broader system architecture (e.g., sensor processing, state estimation, communications, and actuation)
  • Support reuse and extensibility of autonomy behaviors by contributing to shared frameworks and codebases
  • Work with internal product and program teams to deliver capabilities to vehicle platforms, helping ensure successful integration and iteration over time
  • Collaborate with cross-functional and external teams to align on interfaces and system requirements
  • Apply strong software engineering fundamentals to solve complex technical problems, while continuing to grow domain expertise in autonomy and robotics systems
  • Travel up to 20% to support integration, testing, and collaboration with end-users and partner teams

Required Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

#LC

#LI-ED1

Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.