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 launched effects platforms, then integrate, validate, and field it on the real hardware — for U.
Our engineers 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. PX4, ArduPilot), C2 providers, and customer/contractor partners that staff and operate alongside our team. This portfolio runs at a fast cadence — frequent Capability Release milestones, multi-agent fleet operations, air-gapped deployments at scale, and demanding live exercises — and you'll set the pace for your team accordingly. 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. Lead the Team — Manage a small-to-mid-sized engineering team (typically 3–8 engineers); own performance, growth, leveling, and delivery; run 1:1s, performance reviews, and team rituals. Develop & Field Autonomy — Develop & integrate autonomy software solutions onto launched effects platforms, including payload computer bring-up,



autopilot integration (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot), C2 providers, and customer/contractor partners (including embedded contractor engineers and U.coordinate hardware/software compatibility, mission readiness, and Capability Release (CR) cadence with capability and feature teams. On-site Test & Mission Support — Travel to test sites and customer exercises to support live mission operations (flight tests, range exercises, multi-agent live events, customer demonstrations), 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. Continuous Improvement — 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 compliance against common message and open-systems standards (e.g., Travel Requirement – Members of this team typically travel around *% of the year (to different office locations,



customer sites, range exercises, and integration 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; 2+ years of direct people-management experience (running 1:1s, performance reviews, hiring decisions, growth planning). Demonstrated experience building or growing an engineering team — including interviewing, hiring, and onboarding new engineers. Strong 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 live exercises, customer demonstrations, or operational test events for launched effects or similar small unmanned 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. Experience using and developing on QGroundControl (QGC) or other Qt-based ground control stations. Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation, and analysis. Experience growing engineers from mid-level into senior IC, or supporting promotion decisions through a leveling framework. Experience with air-gapped, disconnected, or otherwise constrained deployment of autonomous systems at fleet scale. Familiarity with t

📌 Senior Engineering Manager (Madrid)
🏢 shieldai
📍 Madrid