Shield AI

Chief Engineer, Autonomy (R4614)

Shield AI • $200K — $300K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering or related field.
  • 10+ years in autonomy and/or UAS platforms, preferably in defense tech.
  • 7+ years of experience delivering software in high-reliability production environments.
  • Strong understanding of guidance, control and navigation systems.
  • Familiarity with the robotics stack, including perception and planning components.
  • Proficient in software development processes and deployment practices.
  • Proven problem solver with scientific and technical methodology.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as Chief Engineer for autonomy solutions on unmanned aircraft.
  • Lead a team advancing Hivemind Autonomy for Department of Defense projects.
  • Define technical objectives and key engineering decisions.
  • Ensure high quality and completeness of all engineering deliverables.
  • Provide oversight for Internal Research and Development and DoD contracts.

Benefits

  • Bonus opportunities in addition to base salary.
  • Equity participation available.
  • Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees.
  • Temporary employee benefits after 60 days of employment.
Full Job Description
The Chief Engineer at Shield AI is responsible for solving complex technical challenges in deploying advanced autonomy solutions on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

As the chief authority on system architecture, design, development, risk mitigation, and product quality the Chief Engineer ensures the successful integration of Hivemind Autonomy across a range of aircraft, from small UAS to large autonomous collaborative platforms.

This role is part of the Hivemind Solutions organization and leads a team of engineers to deliver cutting-edge autonomous capabilities for business-to-business and defense contracts. The ideal candidate has defense industry experience as a Chief Engineer and a proven track record of leading technical teams to develop and deploy autonomous systems.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

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


REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • 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 (e.g., defense tech, self-driving car, etc.)
  • 7+ years of delivering software into production/certifiable environments with high-reliability
  • Understanding of guidance, control and navigation (GNC) (e.g. controls, estimation, planning)
  • Understanding of robotics stack (e.g., controls, estimation, perception, planning, etc.)
  • 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


$200,319 - $300,479 a year

#LI-DM1

#LE

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.

About Shield AI

Shield AI is a defense technology company that develops artificially intelligent systems for military applications. The company was founded in 2015 by Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng, and Andrew Reiter, and is headquartered in San Diego, California. Shield AI's products include autonomous drones and software that can be used for reconnaissance, surveillance, and other military operations. The company's mission is to reduce the number of military casualties by providing soldiers with better intelligence and situational awareness. Shield AI has received funding from a number of investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund.
Learn more about Shield AI
Size
200 employees
Industry
Founded
2015

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