Shield AI

Senior Staff Engineer, GCS / Communications Systems (R5020)

Shield AI$130K — $155K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical field
  • 5+ years of experience in communications systems, networking, mission systems, or military aerospace integration
  • Experience with GCS architectures, datalinks, RF systems, networking, or airborne communication systems
  • Familiarity with LOS/BLOS communications, SATCOM, IP networking, encryption technologies, and hardware/software integration environments
  • Strong systems engineering, troubleshooting, and cross-functional communication skills
  • Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

Responsibilities

  • Define GCS and communication system behaviors, operational workflows, and activity diagrams
  • Develop and integrate communication architectures including RF links, SATCOM, and networking infrastructure
  • Lead cross-functional integration to improve system interoperability and reduce integration risk
  • Develop and validate interface definitions and communication performance requirements
  • Support lab, field, and flight test activities to troubleshoot communication issues and validate network performance

Benefits

  • Bonus
  • Equity
  • Comprehensive benefits package for full-time regular employees
  • Temporary benefits package after 60 days for temporary employees
Full Job Description
Job Description:

We are seeking a GCS / Communications Systems Engineer to lead the development, integration, and validation of ground control station and communication architectures supporting advanced military aircraft and autonomous systems. This role directly impacts mission effectiveness, command and control reliability, platform connectivity, and operational resiliency by ensuring robust communication between air, ground, and distributed mission systems.

The engineer will define system behaviors, operational workflows, and communication architectures across the full lifecycle, from concept development through flight and operational test. This role plays a critical part in reducing integration risk, improving network resiliency, and accelerating deployment of mission-critical communication capabilities.

What you'll do:
  • Define GCS and communication system behaviors, operational workflows, and activity diagrams to ensure reliable command, control, telemetry, payload, and mission data exchange
  • Develop and integrate communication architectures including RF links, SATCOM, LOS/BLOS datalinks, networking infrastructure, antennas, encryption devices, and mission control interfaces
  • Lead cross-functional integration between avionics, mission systems, networking, cybersecurity, software, and test teams to improve system interoperability and reduce integration risk
  • Develop and validate interface definitions, network architectures, link budgets, and communication performance requirements for airborne and ground-based systems
  • Support lab, field, and flight test activities to troubleshoot communication issues, validate network performance, and improve operational resiliency and mission readiness

Required qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical field
  • 5+ years of experience in communications systems, networking, mission systems, or military aerospace integration
  • Experience with GCS architectures, datalinks, RF systems, networking, or airborne communication systems
  • Familiarity with LOS/BLOS communications, SATCOM, IP networking, encryption technologies, and hardware/software integration environments
  • Strong systems engineering, troubleshooting, and cross-functional communication skills
  • Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

Preferred qualifications:
  • Experience supporting UAV, fighter aircraft, autonomous systems, or military communication networks
  • Experience defining operational behaviors, activity diagrams, CONOPS, or system architectures using MBSE tools such as Cameo Systems Modeler
  • Background in integration labs, flight test, network resiliency, or tactical communication systems
  • Familiarity with cybersecurity, RMF, resilient communications, and contested environment operations
  • Active Secret or Top Secret clearance preferred

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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