Staff Software Engineer, Task Group (R2428)

Shield AI, founded in 2015, is an innovative defense technology company dedicated to protecting service members and civilians through intelligent autonomous systems. As a Staff Software Engineer in the Planning and Controls (PAC) team, you'll be at the forefront of developing cutting-edge algorithms for autonomous flight behaviors.

The role combines artificial intelligence, task & motion planning, and controls, requiring expertise in C++ and system architecture. You'll be working with a dynamic team in San Diego, contributing to products like Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge, as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems.

Your responsibilities will span from researching and implementing state-of-the-art planning algorithms to optimizing systems on both CPU and GPU. The position requires working with real-time operating systems, robotics middleware, and deploying AI solutions to edge devices. You'll be instrumental in designing scalable infrastructure and working with modern technologies including containerization and cloud systems.

The ideal candidate brings 7+ years of professional experience, strong C++ proficiency, and expertise in collaborative development environments. You'll be working in a company with offices across the globe, including San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi, Kyiv, and Melbourne, actively supporting U.S. and allied operations worldwide.

This role offers competitive compensation ranging from $157,080 to $235,620 annually, plus bonus, benefits, and equity. It's an opportunity to work on meaningful projects that directly impact service members and civilians, while being part of a growing team that values innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence.

The position combines the challenge of complex technical problems with the satisfaction of developing systems that make a real-world impact. You'll be working with cutting-edge technology while contributing to mission-critical systems that require the highest standards of software engineering.