Staff Engineer, Systems (r4624)

at Shield AI · Defense · San Diego, CA · Engineering

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Engineer, Systems Modeler to join the Hivemind Platform Team. This role involves defining, modeling, and communicating the structure and behavior of complex autonomy software systems for robotic platforms. The engineer will build and maintain system models for the Hivemind SDK, developer infrastructure, and user interfaces, while also improving internal engineering processes. The position requires strong expertise in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and a deep understanding of autonomous software pipelines.

What you'd actually do

  1. define, model, and communicate the structure and behavior of complex autonomy software systems
  2. building and maintaining system models that span the full product stack—from foundational software and autonomy algorithms to developer infrastructure to user-facing interfaces
  3. help us improve our internal engineering processes, modeling the design of the systems that support product development such as CI/CD pipelines, test and configuration systems, and software and product life cycle processes
  4. help with functions such as requirements development

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree with approximately 7+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree with approximately 5+ years of relevant experience, in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Software Engineering, or a closely related technical field with demonstrated experience working on complex software or autonomous systems.
  • Strong experience with MBSE practices, including practical application of SysML v1.6 and familiarity with SysML v2 concepts.
  • Hands-on experience with Cameo Systems Modeler or equivalent MBSE tools.
  • Ability to translate complex technical systems into clear, structured models and narratives.
  • The ability to create effective diagrams using best practices for visual design (groupings, alignment, color, etc.) using non-MBSE-specific tools (such as Lucid, Visio, or similar diagramming software).
  • Proven ability to understand, model, and reason about large-scale autonomy software systems and developer-focused SDKs.
  • Strong understanding of modern software engineering practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, configuration management, and software lifecycle processes.
  • Experience working cross-functionally with software engineers, autonomy / AI engineers, test engineers, product managers, and UX / GUI teams.
  • Familiarity with requirements engineering concepts (e.g., requirement quality, traceability, validation) and willingness to contribute to requirements writing when needed.
  • Familiarity with software development workflows in modern languages (C++17 or later, Python, Go, etc.).

Nice to have

  • Prior experience modeling autonomy or robotic systems.
  • Experience supporting or defining developer tooling, SDKs, or platforms.
  • Exposure to safety-critical or mission-critical software development environments.
  • Experience using system models to drive reviews, design milestones, or technical decision forums.
  • Experience creating software tooling. For example, scripts to import information into Cameo.

What the JD emphasized

  • complex autonomy software systems
  • autonomy algorithms
  • developer infrastructure
  • user-facing interfaces
  • CI/CD pipelines
  • test and configuration systems
  • software and product life cycle processes
  • requirements development
  • MBSE practices
  • SysML v1.6
  • SysML v2 concepts
  • Cameo Systems Modeler
  • large-scale autonomy software systems
  • developer-focused SDKs
  • modern software engineering practices
  • CI/CD
  • automated testing
  • configuration management
  • software lifecycle processes
  • autonomy / AI engineers
  • requirements engineering concepts
  • software development workflows

Other signals

  • Hivemind Enterprise product is a software development kit (SDK) that enables scalable design, deployment, evaluation, and iteration of autonomy architectures for a wide range of robotic platforms.
  • This role focuses on building and maintaining system models that span the full product stack—from foundational software and autonomy algorithms to developer infrastructure to user-facing interfaces.
  • Your models will shape architecture decisions, enable cross-team alignment, and ensure that Hivemind continues to scale as a robust autonomy platform.
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.

The Hivemind Platform Team at Shield AI is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Systems Modeler to join our team.

The Hivemind Enterprise product is a software development kit (SDK) that enables scalable design, deployment, evaluation, and iteration of autonomy architectures for a wide range of robotic platforms. Hivemind Enterprise is a highly technical software product providing tools and user interfaces to support multiple user personae, ranging from AI developers to test engineers.

As a Systems Modeler for Hivemind at Shield AI, you will be a key member of a multidisciplinary Systems Engineering team, working collaboratively with Product, technical individual contributors, and Test / Quality Assurance team members to define, model, and communicate the structure and behavior of complex autonomy software systems. This role focuses on building and maintaining system models that span the full product stack—from foundational software and autonomy algorithms to developer infrastructure to user-facing interfaces. In addition to modeling the Hivemind SDK product, you will also use your skills to help us improve our internal engineering processes, modeling the design of the systems that support product development such as CI/CD pipelines, test and configuration systems, and software and product life cycle processes. While your primary focus will be systems modeling, as part of a full Systems Engineering team, you will also support your team members as needed by helping with functions such as requirements development.

This role is hands-on and highly collaborative, requiring deep expertise in systems modeling and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), strong software system intuition, and working knowledge of autonomous software pipelines. As a Systems Modeler on the Hivemind team, you will help create a shared, rigorous understanding of one of Shield AI’s most complex and critical software products. Your models will shape architecture decisions, enable cross-team alignment, and ensure that Hivemind continues to scale as a robust autonomy platform.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree with approximately 7+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree with approximately 5+ years of relevant experience, in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Software Engineering, or a closely related technical field with demonstrated experience working on complex software or autonomous systems.
  • Strong experience with MBSE practices, including practical application of SysML v1.6 and familiarity with SysML v2 concepts.
  • Hands-on experience with Cameo Systems Modeler or equivalent MBSE tools. Ability to translate complex technical systems into clear, structured models and narratives. The ability to create effective diagrams using best practices for visual design (groupings, alignment, color, etc.) using non-MBSE-specific tools (such as Lucid, Visio, or similar diagramming software).
  • Proven ability to understand, model, and reason about large-scale autonomy software systems and developer-focused SDKs.
  • Strong understanding of modern software engineering practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, configuration management, and software lifecycle processes.
  • Experience working cross-functionally with software engineers, autonomy / AI engineers, test engineers, product managers, and UX / GUI teams.
  • Familiarity with requirements engineering concepts (e.g., requirement quality, traceability, validation) and willingness to contribute to requirements writing when needed.
  • Familiarity with software development workflows in modern languages (C++17 or later, Python, Go, etc.).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Prior experience modeling autonomy or robotic systems.
  • Experience supporting or defining developer tooling, SDKs, or platforms.
  • Exposure to safety-critical or mission-critical software development environments.
  • Experience using system models to drive reviews, design milestones, or technical decision forums.
  • Experience creating software tooling. For example, scripts to import information into Cameo.

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.