Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI's technology actively supports operations worldwide. We combine capabilities from the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team (e.g., track fusion), and the HivemindSDK to develop the autonomy software that runs on an unmanned platform — air, maritime, space, or effects/expendables, depending on the program — then integrate, validate, and field it on the real hardware. In this role, you'll write new autonomy code — such as mission behaviors, platform-specific control, multi-agent coordination, contingencies, and executive autonomy — and own it end-to-end from software-in-the-loop, to hardware-in-the-loop, to vehicle-in-the-loop, to live test exercise. You'll partner closely with the Autonomy Capabilities and Perception teams, feature crews, and external platform integrators (vehicle/autopilot control vendors, C2 providers). It's a hands-on role for engineers who like seeing their code operate in the real world — whether that's flying, sailing, orbiting, or downrange — and want to be there when it does. Our Autonomous Pilot Integration engineers bridge the gap between R&D; and deployment, ensuring autonomous systems function reliably and effectively wherever and whenever they're needed most. Develop & Field Autonomy— Develop & integrate autonomy software solutions onto unmanned platforms (air, maritime, space, or effects/expendables), including payload computer bring-up, container-based deployment (e.g., k3s/k3d),



and configuration across onboard compute, sensors, and command-and-control interfaces — and lead a small team through the design, development, and delivery of a major capability or sub-program. Technical Leadership— Lead a small feature crew or sub-program; Collaboration Across Teams— Act as a primary technical interface with the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team, feature crews, and external partners (platform integrators, vehicle/autopilot control vendors, C2 providers); partner with managers on onboarding, leveling, and growth planning. Formally onboard senior new hires. Pre-deployment Preparation— Own the build, configuration, and validation process for mission-ready systems; coordinate hardware/software compatibility, mission readiness, and release cadence with capability and feature teams. On-site Test & Mission Support— Travel to test sites and support live mission operations (flight tests, range exercises, on-water trials, integration events), including safety checks, system bring-up, and troubleshooting under time-critical constraints. Hardware/Software Debugging— Diagnose and resolve integration issues across complex autonomy stacks, payload computers, and embedded systems in lab and field environments — including memory, CPU, and timing profiling under operationally-representative loads. Mission Data & Debrief Support— Capture mission and test data,



reproduce issues in simulation, and partner with autonomy capability owners to drive fixes back into the next build. ContinuousImprovement— Build tools and processes to improve integration timelines, test/mission reliability, and team efficiency across deployment cycles. C2 Interoperability & Standards— Own the interface contracts with C2 providers and drive standards compliance for your area, including implementation and validation against command-and-control standards (e.g., Travel Requirement– Members of this team typically travel around *% of the year (to different office locations, customer sites, and integration/test events). BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 5 years and a Master's degree; or 4 years with a PhD; Proficiency in C++, with experience developing or integrating real-time or latency-sensitive systems. Proficiency in Linux-based development and experience working with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics. Familiarity with middleware, pub-sub, or IPC frameworks used in autonomy or robotics systems (e.g., Hands-on experience supporting demos, exercises, or field/mission tests for unmanned or autonomous systems. Experience with autonomy simulation environments for testing and validation. Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance across the full stack. Direct experience supporting unmanned systems (air, maritime, space, ground, or effects/expendables) or similar field test campaigns. Proficiency in Python for scripting,

📌 Staff Software Engineer (España)
🏢 shieldai
📍 España