Job Description
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
This senior staff engineer for mission systems will serve as a senior technical leader responsible for the end-to-end engineering of mission systems on advanced next-gen unmanned aircraft, including payloads, communications, avionics, weapons, and associated support systems. This individual will shape the technical direction of programs, ensuring that the aircraft deliver decisive mission capabilities through robust, integrated, and certifiable system designs.
In this role, the engineer will drive mission system architectures, lead requirement development and allocation, and oversee system integration from concept through flight test and fielding. They will ensure that payloads, avionics, and weapons are seamlessly integrated into the aircraft while meeting mission performance, safety, airworthiness, and compliance objectives.
Required Qualifications:
- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field
- 8+ years of relevant aerospace/defense experience, with at least 5 years in mission systems integration
- Demonstrated experience with aircraft payloads, avionics, and/or weapons integration
- Demonstrated experience with line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight aircraft communications systems and components
- Working knowledge of Government modular open system approach (MOSA) standards to include open mission systems (OMS), Government Reference Architectures (GRA) or modular avionics standards
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and deliver complex systems to fielded capability
- Strong knowledge of systems engineering processes and product development lifecycle
- Familiarity with DO-178C/DO-254 certification requirements for software and hardware
- Excellent communication skills and ability to brief technical findings to executives and customers
- Active Secret clearance and have the ability to obtain a Top-Secret clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s or PhD in Aerospace, Systems, or Electrical Engineering
- Hands-on experience with flight test operations and mission system validation
- Direct experience integrating advanced sensors, autonomy, AI-enabled payloads, or guided weapons
- Background in model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and SysML tools
- Strong knowledge of current aircraft mission systems vendors and capabilities
- Active DoD Top Secret clearance
#LI-JM2
#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.
###
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.
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field
- 8+ years of relevant aerospace/defense experience, with at least 5 years in mission systems integration
- Demonstrated experience with aircraft payloads, avionics, and/or weapons integration
- Demonstrated experience with line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight aircraft communications systems and components
- Working knowledge of Government modular open system approach (MOSA) standards to include open mission systems (OMS), Government Reference Architectures (GRA) or modular avionics standards
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and deliver complex systems to fielded capability
- Strong knowledge of systems engineering processes and product development lifecycle
- Familiarity with DO-178C/DO-254 certification requirements for software and hardware
- Excellent communication skills and ability to brief technical findings to executives and customers
- Active Secret clearance and have the ability to obtain a Top-Secret clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s or PhD in Aerospace, Systems, or Electrical Engineering
- Hands-on experience with flight test operations and mission system validation
- Direct experience integrating advanced sensors, autonomy, AI-enabled payloads, or guided weapons
- Background in model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and SysML tools
- Strong knowledge of current aircraft mission systems vendors and capabilities
- Active DoD Top Secret clearance
Similar Jobs
Associate Marketing Events Specialist, Europe & Africa
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Business Development Manager, Saudi Arabia
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Senior Engineer, Simulation (R3994)
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Director, Autonomy Applications Engineering (R3988)
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Staff Presales Engineer, Hivemind
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Propulsion Engineering Spring Co-op (January 2026) (X-BAT)
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Simulation Engineering Spring 2026 Co-Op (Dallas, TX)
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Senior Staff Engineer, Software Autonomy Applications
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Staff Engineer, Software Autonomy Applications
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Chief Engineer, Autonomy
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Business Development Manager, Taiwan (R4049)
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Senior Director, Air Force Strategic Capture (R4047)
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Program Manager, VBAT Sustainment (R4048)
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Staff Proposal Specialist (R3847)
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Strategic Pursuits Lead (R3979)
shieldai
On-siteFull-time
Disclaimer: Real Jobs From Anywhere is an independent platform dedicated to providing information about job openings. We are not affiliated with, nor do we represent, any company, agency, or agent mentioned in the job listings. Please refer to our Terms of Services for further details.