Manager, Platform Engineering (R3407)

Shield Ai • Campbell, CA

247d • $160,000 - $330,000

About The Position

As a Platform Engineering Manager on the Hivemind Forge team, you will be at the forefront of designing and developing the infrastructure and tools that power advanced autonomy systems. This role combines technical leadership with hands-on development, requiring a deep understanding of scalable architectures, distributed systems, and developer tooling. You will work closely with product management, program teams, and cross-functional engineering groups, including simulation, analysis, frontend, systems, and autonomy teams, ensuring that Forge meets the evolving needs of autonomy engineers. Your leadership will drive high-impact technical decisions, mentor engineers, and shape the future of Forge's platform capabilities - all while remaining actively involved in writing code and system design.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience designing and delivering scalable, production-grade software systems.
• 3+ years of technical leadership experience, guiding teams in designing and building complex software platforms.
• Expertise in Golang and Python for backend and systems programming.
• Strong background in cloud computing, containerization, and orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker).
• Deep understanding of distributed systems, networking protocols (TCP, UDP), and data processing.
• Experience deploying secure, reliable infrastructure in hybrid cloud and on-premises environments.
• Strong architectural decision-making skills, balancing performance, scalability, and maintainability.
• BS/MS in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
• Proven ability to mentor engineers, work collaboratively, and drive results in fast-paced environments.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Helm charts and automated infrastructure deployment tools.
• Familiarity with low-level network analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark, Serf).
• Knowledge of CUE for configuration management and schema validation.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing environments.
• Background in aerospace, defense, or regulated industries with a focus on secure software practices.
• Experience building and maintaining production-grade SDKs.
• Proficiency in additional systems-level languages (e.g., C++, Rust).
• Hands-on experience with event-driven architectures and distributed systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of platform developers
• Lead the design and development of Forge's platform, ensuring scalability, performance, and security.
• Architect and implement distributed systems, high-performance APIs, and robust data pipelines for autonomy engineering workflows.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with simulation, analysis, frontend, systems, and autonomy teams to integrate Forge into the broader Shield AI ecosystem.
• Develop and optimize backend services, data models, and cloud-based infrastructure to support simulation and real-world autonomy testing.
• Drive technical excellence, establishing best practices for code quality, security, and system reliability.
• Balance hands-on development with leadership responsibilities, mentoring engineers and fostering a culture of technical innovation.
• Ensure seamless developer experiences, enhancing Forge's SDK, CLI, and web tooling to empower autonomy engineers.
• Manage project priorities, trade-offs, and timelines, ensuring alignment with company objectives.
• Create and maintain clear, detailed documentation for internal and external users of Forge's platform.

Benefits

• Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
• Temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree