Senior Staff Engineer, Avionics Systems (R6238)

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. 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.

Job Description:

As a Staff Systems Engineer on Shield AI's next gen UAS program, you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and integrating cutting-edge autonomous aircraft systems for national defense. You will lead the technical execution of the air vehicle avionics architecture, integrating flight computers, navigation, communications, sensor payloads, and mission systems with autonomy and propulsion.

This position requires a deep understanding of aerospace systems engineering, avionics architecture, and complex system integration. You will work with the hardware, software, autonomy, flight operations, and manufacturing teams to develop a scalable, mission-ready platform that can operate in contested environments.

Your expertise will be critical to defining avionics requirements and architectures through model-based systems engineering (MBSE). You will also run trade studies, ensure compliance with military and aviation standards, and support the aircraft through flight testing and operational deployment.

• System Architecture & Design: Develop and refine the avionics architecture for the next gen UAS, covering flight and mission computers, data networks, navigation, communications, sensor payloads, and their interfaces with autonomy and propulsion.
• System Behavior & Safety: Define and document system-level behavior, including modes, states, transitions, redundancy management, and fault detection, isolation, and recovery. Support safety analyses (FHA, FMEA, FTA) by defining behavior under fault conditions.
• Requirements & Interface Management: Establish top-level requirements, break them down into avionics subsystem requirements, and own the interface control documents (ICDs), keeping them traceable across the development lifecycle.
• Navigation & Communications: Define navigation architectures, including GPS/INS and alternative navigation for GPS-denied operations. Also define datalink and communications architectures that keep command, control, and mission data reliable in contested environments.
• Avionics Integration: Lead integration of avionics hardware and data buses (e.g., Ethernet, MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, CAN), thermal, EMI/EMC, and environmental considerations.
• Autonomy Integration: Work with the autonomy and software teams to make sure the avionics architecture provides the compute, sensor data, and determinism that flight control and mission execution need.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Work with DoD stakeholders, industry partners, and avionics suppliers to align system capabilities with operational requirements.

• Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree
• Demonstrated experience defining system behavior logic, operational modes, and redundancy and fault management
• Deep expertise in avionics architecture and integration, including flight computers, navigation systems, datalinks, and avionics data buses
• Proficiency in MBSE, DOORS, SysML, Cameo, or similar system modeling tools for complex systems design and analysis
• Experience with Group 4 or Group 5 UAS, military aircraft, or autonomous airborne platforms
• Strong background in avionics integration, hardware/software integration labs, flight testing, and performance validation
• Knowledge of DoD acquisition processes, airworthiness (MIL-HDBK-516C), and avionics standards (e.g., MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-704, MIL-STD-810, DO-178C, DO-254)
• Experience on a developmental program from clean sheet to first flight
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, agile environment with shifting priorities
• Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance

• Experience with alternative navigation, assured PNT, or GPS-denied navigation solutions
• Expertise in sensor integration for airborne platforms
• Familiarity with modular open system architectures (MOSA), Government Reference Architectures (GRA), or open standards such as SOSA and FACE
• Experience developing or integrating AI-driven autonomy for unmanned aircraft
• Prior experience working with defense primes, DoD stakeholders, or government R&D programs
• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance

$170,000 - $310,000 a year

San Diego, CA/Washington, D.C/Dallas, TX pay range: $170,000 - $260,000

Seattle, WA pay range: $210,000 - $310,000

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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.

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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.