Networking & OS Engineering Manager (R6630)

Shield AI•Dallas, TX

About The Position

Shield AI is hiring an Engineering Manager for Networking and Operating Systems on its V-BAT team. The role leads a team developing network infrastructure for an unmanned aerial system designed to operate in challenging, contested, and GNSS-denied environments. The network must provide reliable, secure, and efficient communication among air and ground devices. This is a hands-on leadership position, with approximately half of the time devoted to managing and developing the team and half to direct technical contributions. The manager translates mission needs into production-ready networking and OS capabilities, working across engineering and operational teams and validating performance in hardware-in-the-loop labs and flight tests. The stated salary range is $195,000–$250,000 per year. Compensation depends on factors including skills, experience, credentials, and work location; offers are contingent on a cleared background check and may include a reference check.

Requirements

At least 8 years developing network or operating-system software for complex, safety-critical, or mission-critical systems.
At least 3 years leading software engineering teams, including planning, execution, coaching, and performance management.
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts and build alignment across disciplines.
Ability to navigate competing priorities and resolve technical tradeoffs with cross-functional stakeholders.
Strong proficiency developing production-grade software in C, C++, or Python in Linux environments.
Track record of shipping software that interacts directly with the Linux OS networking stack.
Deep understanding of Linux networking and Layer 2/Layer 3 fundamentals, including routing and VLANs.
Experience with netlink, iptables/nftables, TUN/TAP interfaces, network namespaces, socket programming, and VPN or tunneling mechanisms.
Ability to lead reliable software delivery through development, integration, and deployment.
Hands-on experience troubleshooting network degradation in lossy, high-latency, or bandwidth-constrained environments.
Proficiency with network diagnostic tools such as tcpdump, Wireshark, iproute2, and iperf.
Ability to obtain a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing embedded Linux networking applications using build systems such as Yocto or OS-level customization tools.
Experience collaborating with RF and other hardware engineers to design network protocols and topologies for novel radio network designs.
Experience architecting network solutions for robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace, or edge-computing hardware.
Familiarity with network security, public key infrastructure (PKI), and cryptographic tunnels in embedded systems.

Responsibilities

Lead, plan, prioritize, and oversee execution for a team of networking and OS engineers; provide coaching, performance management, and development.
Communicate status, risks, dependencies, and delivery commitments to leadership.
Develop bandwidth-optimized, low-latency communications over lossy or constrained radio and satellite links using traffic management, device isolation, and multi-link failover.
Develop resilient Layer 2 and Layer 3 network topologies and embedded Linux networking capabilities, including custom routing, TUN/TAP interfaces, user-space tunnels, and socket-level applications.
Collaborate with software and hardware engineers, field operators, and program stakeholders to align priorities, resolve technical tradeoffs, and validate end-to-end performance in hardware-in-the-loop labs and flight test environments.
Set and maintain engineering standards for code quality, testing, reliability, and delivery.
Explain technical decisions and balance near-term execution with long-term architecture and team development.
Make direct technical contributions to networking and OS engineering work.