Software Engineer II, Autonomy Behaviors (R5202)

Boston, MA / Washington, DC / San Diego, California / Dallas, TexasHivemind Solutions Division – Flight System Integration /Full Time Employee /On-siteShield 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. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit . Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. About The TeamThe Autonomy Capabilities team at Shield AI has assembled a diverse team of experts in software, robotics, control systems, optimization, and data analysis to create software solutions that greatly evolve the capabilities of our customers. The team is responsible for developing autonomous behaviors within Shield AI’s industry-leading mission autonomy software stack and deploying them across a breadth of platforms, including the Anduril Fury, Northrup Grumman Talon, Shield AI V-Bat, and other first and third-party autonomous vehicles. We work in close coordination with specialist teams in software integration, hardware, and test engineering to solve some of the hardest problems facing our customers.About the Job: As an Engineer II, you’ll help build and test the autonomy behaviors that power our unmanned systems, working closely with experienced engineers to bring new capabilities to life. You’ll focus on implementing and validating well-defined features while developing your skills in autonomy, robotics, and large-scale software systems. In this role, you’ll gain exposure to how autonomy software moves from concept to real-world deployment, contributing to systems that operate in complex, high-stakes environments.What You'll Do:Implement tactical autonomy software features that enable unmanned platforms to perform complex missions across air, land, sea, and space domainsDevelop and test behaviors supporting coordination, target engagement, reconnaissance, and survivability in contested scenariosParticipate in the software development lifecycle, including implementation, testing, debugging, and supporting verification and validation effortsCollaborate with senior engineers to integrate software components with broader system elements (e.g., sensor processing, communications, and actuation)Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code following established engineering standards and team practicesSupport integration and testing across simulation and real-world environmentsWork with cross-functional teams to understand requirements and support successful feature deliveryContinue building expertise in software engineering, autonomy, and robotics systemsTravel up to 20% to support testing, integration, and collaboration with partner teamsRequired Qualifications: BS in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related fieldExperience in production-level C++ software development2-3 years of experience in one or more of the following: software sub-system scheduling and integration, behavior planning, task and resource allocation, motion planning, optimization, or flight controlsExperience with collaborative software development tools for version control, issue tracking, code reviews, release managementAbility to contribute to the design, development, and integration of complex software systems as part of a multi-disciplinary teamDemonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to learn new technologies in a fast-paced environmentWillingness to collaborate closely with teammates and support team objectivesInterest in growing technical skills and, over time, providing guidance to more junior engineersDesire to work in a highly collaborative, fast paced, and mission-driven environmentEligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearancePreferred Qualifications:Exposure to systems operating at different technology readiness levels (TRLs) through academic, research, or internship experienceExperience in the delivery of a military mission systemFamiliarity with mission systems integration concepts, testing, or demonstrationsExperience (academic or project-based) in one or more of the following areas:Motion planning, behavior planning, or multi-agent coordinationExpose to autonomy, control, or decision-making systemsSafety mechanisms such as collision avoidance or constraint enforcementFamiliarity with robotic software tools (e.g., ROS, OMPL, or similar frameworks)Experience using simulation environments for development or testingBasic understanding of navigation and/or communications systemsAwareness of the software or systems development lifecycleFamiliarity with systems engineering fundamentalsExposure to high-assurance or safety-critical software concepts (e.g., DO-178C or similar)$131,921 - $197,881 a year#LB#LI-ED1Full-time regular employee offer package:Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + EquityTemporary 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. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.