Lead end-to-end mission systems engineering for advanced unmanned aircraft, including architecture, requirements, payloads, avionics, communications, weapons, integration, certification, and flight testing. Drive system-of-systems trade studies, integration campaigns, technical maturity, and compliance with aerospace standards. Serve as a technical subject matter expert while coordinating with program management, customers, partners, and suppliers to deliver fielded mission capabilities.
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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
This 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.
What You'll Do:
- Lead system architecture and requirements development and integration for payloads, avionics, and weapons integration
- Serve as a technical subject matter expert for mission systems engineering across the aircraft program
- Drive trade studies and system-of-systems analysis to balance performance, cost, and schedule
- Oversee integration and test campaigns, from bench-level hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) to flight test
- Ensure compliance with MIL-HDBK-516C, DO-178C, DO-254, and related standards
- Collaborate with program management to de-risk architectures and ensure technical maturity gates are met
- Interface with customers, partners, and suppliers to align system requirements and certifications
Required Qualifications:
- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field
- Typically requires a minimum of 7 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.
Similar Jobs at Shield
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Product Support Engineering Interns will develop sustainment tools, dashboards, and data pipelines for autonomous defense systems. Responsibilities include analyzing telemetry, maintenance, logistics, and supply-chain data; supporting reliability, availability, and maintainability analyses; managing FRACAS processes; identifying component failure trends; and collaborating with software engineering, logistics, and field operations teams. The role is a paid, on-site, 10-week summer internship focused on improving fleet health, maintainability, and lifecycle support.
Top Skills:
Palantir FoundryPower BIPythonRSQLTableau
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Own university recruiting strategy and full-cycle hiring for interns, co-ops, and new graduates across engineering and select business functions. Build campus partnerships and employer brand, manage career events, lead technical candidate evaluation, close offers, support onboarding, and drive intern-to-full-time conversion. Partner with senior leaders on workforce planning, track funnel and school ROI metrics, and optimize recruiting strategy. Travel is required during peak campus recruiting season.
Top Skills:
Applicant Tracking Systems (Ats)C++EarItarSourcing Tools
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Leads enterprise-wide environmental, health, and safety governance across corporate facilities. Responsibilities include developing policies and compliance systems, managing regulatory reporting, audits, corrective actions, emergency preparedness, business continuity, and corporate security oversight. The role partners with Facilities, Legal, HR, Security, and business leaders, analyzes risks and incidents, reports program metrics to executives, and develops the EH&S team while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations.
Top Skills:
EpaIso 14001Iso 45001Osha
What you need to know about the Seattle Tech Scene
Home to tech titans like Microsoft and Amazon, Seattle punches far above its weight in innovation. But its surrounding mountains, sprinkled with world-famous hiking trails and climbing routes, make the city a destination for outdoorsy types as well. Established as a logging town before shifting to shipbuilding and logistics, the Emerald City is now known for its contributions to aerospace, software, biotech and cloud computing. And its status as a thriving tech ecosystem is attracting out-of-town companies looking to establish new tech and engineering hubs.
Key Facts About Seattle Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 287,000; 13% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, software, biotechnology, game development
- Funding Landscape: $3.1 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Madrona, Fuse, Tola, Maveron
- Research Centers and Universities: University of Washington, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle Children’s Research Institute
