Shield AI

Staff Engineer, Safety-Critical Software (R5826)

Shield AI$135K — $160K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in software engineering, with Bachelor's or higher degree; or equivalent experience.
  • Proven expertise in C++ for developing safety-critical systems with real-time capabilities.
  • Strong mentoring ability to advocate software best practices among engineers.
  • Experience in integrating software with physical systems to enhance reliability and performance.
  • Deep knowledge of software architecture design patterns for C++ implementations.
  • Familiar with software assurance certifications like DO-178C and MIL-HDBK-516.
  • Proficient in Git, Linux, and modern development practices (CI/CD, test-driven development).
  • Proven technical leadership with a focus on setting high standards and effective collaboration.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the architecture and development of a configurable Run-Time Assurance module for safe autonomous operations.
  • Collaborate with engineers to integrate mission-autonomy software with high-assurance middleware.
  • Test and validate RTA capabilities across various platforms and conditions to ensure fail-safe behavior.
  • Promote and implement principled software development practices in the team.
  • Create certifiability artifacts, including analysis reports, documentation, and system models.
  • Guide and mentor developers in safe software development practices to improve quality and assurance.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Generous retirement plan options along with company equity opportunities.
  • Employee eligibility for bonuses based on performance metrics.
  • Paid time off for vacations, sick leave, and holidays.
Full Job Description
Job Description:

The Hivemind Foundations team is an agile group of engineers focused on building a state-of-the-art Autonomy Software Development Kit (SDK) that enables resilient autonomy and intelligence for a wide range of platforms in diverse environments. The Safety-Critical Software Team in Hivemind Foundations is responsible for developing safety augmentation capabilities against strict airworthiness development standards for Hivemind Foundations. This allows Hivemind Enterprise customers to develop and fly cutting-edge autonomy solutions with confidence, with a clear path to certification.

As a member of the Safety-Critical Software Team, you will work with a group of engineers to develop cutting-edge safety-critical, high-performance and robust software that serves as a safety monitor between the low-assurance mission autonomy system and the flight control system, bounding unsafe behavior and ensuring safe flight. You will work closely with talented engineers to architect and develop core systems, set standards for software engineering and mentor other engineers.

What you'll do:
  • Drive architecture, development, integration and testing of an extensible, configurable Run-Time Assurance (RTA) module that ensures safe operation of autonomous systems in diverse, adversarial conditions.
  • Work closely with other engineers in Foundations to design and integrate with the low-assurance mission-autonomy software and high-assurance middleware.
  • Specialize, integrate and test the RTA capability on a diverse set of platforms in various conditions to ensure robust fail-safe behavior.
  • Drive principled software development practices across Foundations including but not limited to code analysis, audit trail, principled review processes.
  • Collaborate with the team to generate artifacts that enable certifiability of Foundations software, including but not limited to static & dynamic analysis reports, software documentation, architecture decision records (ADRs), interface control diagrams (ICDs), system models.
  • Mentor and guide Foundations developers on practices of safe software development to enhance software quality and assurance.

Required qualifications:
  • Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 9 years with a Master's degree; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
  • Demonstrated excellence in designing and developing C++ based safety-critical software systems with Real-Time guarantees.
  • Experience working as a mentor to other engineers in a role driving software best practices to enhance software quality.
  • Experience integrating software on real-world physical systems and driving up performance and reliability.
  • Deep expertise in C++ software architecture design patterns and their practical implementation.
  • Strong knowledge of software assurance certifications such as DO-178C and MIL-HDBK-516.
  • Strong Git and Linux development skills, along with modern software development practices (e.g., CI/CD, test-driven development).
  • A track record of technical leadership, with the ability to set and maintain high standards, guide teams through complex technical challenges, and collaborate effectively.

Preferred qualifications:
  • Experience developing against strict C++ coding standards (e.g., MISRA C++, JSF AV C++)
  • Hands-on experience with airworthiness certifications such as MIL-HDBK-516, DO-178C.
  • Experience taking a solution through a certification process and achieving a certification.

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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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