Shield AI

Senior Staff Engineer, Flight Controls - X-BAT (R4812)

Shield AI$220K — $340K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in flight controls/GNC on real flight vehicles, with ownership from design to flight test.
  • Experience with control allocation design and implementation for over-actuated systems.
  • Strong background in flight dynamics and 6DOF simulation, control theory, and nonlinear systems.
  • Experience executing full V&V cycles, including Monte Carlo analysis and flight readiness assessments.
  • Proficiency in C++, MATLAB/Simulink, and/or Python for real-time algorithms.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement the flight control system for various flight phases.
  • Lead the development of high-fidelity 6DOF simulation environments for performance predictions.
  • Define and execute testing strategies including linear analysis and HIL validation.
  • Diagnose and fix simulation-to-flight mismatches and modeling gaps.
  • Support flight test operations with risk-informed decisions and iterative feedback.
  • Integrate control systems with other vehicle subsystems for predictable performance.
  • Mentor engineers and establish technical standards for control system performance.

Benefits

  • Bonus opportunities.
  • Equity in the company.
  • Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees.
  • Temporary benefits package applicable after 60 days for temporary employees.
Full Job Description
Job Description:

In this role, you will own the flight control system for XBAT, with responsibility for delivering stable, predictable, and operationally robust performance across all phases of flight, including vertical takeoff, hover, transition out-bound, wing-borne flight, transition in-bound, and precision recovery.

What you'll do:

  • Design and deliver the flight control system across all phases of flight including control allocation strategies that manage actuator redundancy, saturation, and degraded operations.
  • Lead development of high-fidelity 6DOF simulation environments and ensure accurate pre-flight performance predictions
  • Define and execute the verification strategy, including linear analysis, Monte Carlo campaigns, disturbance/sensitivity/degraded operation testing, and HIL validation
  • Diagnose and resolve simulation-to-flight mismatches, including unidentified dynamics and modeling gaps
  • Support flight test operations, making risk-informed decisions and driving rapid iteration between flights
  • Integrate control systems with propulsion, aero, actuation, sensors, state estimation, and autonomy, ensuring the vehicle behaves predictably under real-world disturbances and uncertainties
  • Mentor and guide engineers while setting the technical standard for control system performance and rigor


Required qualifications:

  • 10+ years of experience in flight controls / GNC on real flight vehicles, with demonstrated ownership from design through flight test
  • Demonstrated experience with control allocation design and implementation for over-actuated systems with provisions for saturation and failure accommodation.
  • Strong background in:
    • Flight dynamics and 6DOF simulation
    • Control theory and nonlinear systems
  • Experience executing full V&V cycles, including pre-flight performance prediction, Monte Carlo analysis, flight readiness assessment, and post-flight analysis
  • Proficiency in C++, MATLAB/Simulink, and/or Python, with experience deploying real-time algorithms
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance


Preferred qualifications:

  • VTOL or transition aircraft experience where control blending and allocation were critical to success
  • Autonomous systems or missile/UAV GNC background
  • Experience with flight safety, airworthiness, and mission assurance
  • Familiarity with:
    • Sensor and air data systems
    • Fault-tolerant or adaptive control
    • CI/CD pipelines and modern DevSecOps practices
  • Experience with HIL or integrated simulation/test environments and Linux-based development workflows (Git, etc.)
  • Experience operating in rapid development environments with tight iteration loops between simulation and test


$220,000 - $340,000 a year

#LI-SM1

#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.

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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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