Senior Manager, Autonomy Integration (SD/DC) (R3432)

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Its products include Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge—as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems (wide-area motion imaging software). With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide.  For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram.    

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Autonomy Integration Engineer with 10+ years of experience to manage a technical team supporting the development, integration, and testing of autonomy algorithms for advanced aerospace, defense, and robotics systems. In this role, you will contribute to implementing and integrating innovative autonomy solutions while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of engineers to meet challenging operational requirements.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to apply your technical expertise in autonomy and system integration while growing your skills in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. You will work on cutting-edge projects that advance the capabilities of autonomous systems and ensure their seamless integration into real-world platforms.

What You'll Do:

• Multidisciplinary Team Leadership: Lead teams across autonomy, integration, and testing by aligning technical efforts, resolving cross-functional challenges, and driving mission-focused execution. Balance hands-on technical oversight with performance optimization, innovation, and clear stakeholder communication.
• Autonomy Development: Assist in developing autonomy algorithms for path planning, decision-making, perception, and control to meet system performance and mission requirements.
• System Integration: Support the integration of autonomy algorithms with platform hardware and software, including sensors, control systems, and communication interfaces.
• Validation and Testing: Conduct simulation-based testing (HIL/SIL) and participate in live system tests to validate autonomy functionality and identify areas for improvement.
• Collaboration: Work closely with software developers, systems engineers, and testing teams to ensure alignment of autonomy capabilities with overall system architecture and mission goals.
• Optimization and Troubleshooting: Debug and optimize autonomy systems to enhance performance, reliability, and adaptability.
• Documentation and Reporting: Contribute to technical documentation, test reports, and presentations for stakeholders and team members.
• Innovation and Learning: Stay current on emerging trends and technologies in robotics, autonomy, and AI to incorporate best practices into development efforts.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• 10+ years of experience developing and integrating autonomy algorithms in robotics, aerospace, or defense systems.
• 2+ years managing technical teams.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as C++ and Python, and familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Knowledge of sensor integration, sensor fusion, and middleware frameworks (e.g., ROS, DDS).
• Experience with simulation tools and environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) for testing and validation.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with open architecture standards (e.g., OMS/UCI or FACE) and regulatory standards (e.g., DO-178C)
• Active SECRET Clearance.

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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.

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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.