Senior Systems Engineer (R6455)

Shield AI•Seattle, WA

17d

About The Position

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-technology company focused on 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. As a Senior Systems Engineer on Shield AI’s next-generation UAS program, you will design, develop, and integrate autonomous aircraft systems for national defense. You will lead technical execution of system architecture and coordinate integration of avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensor payloads, and mission-critical systems. The role works across hardware, software, autonomy, flight operations, and manufacturing teams to deliver a scalable, mission-ready platform for contested environments. You will define system requirements and architectures using model-based systems engineering, conduct trade studies, support compliance with military and aviation standards, and help advance the aircraft through flight testing and operational deployment.

Requirements

At least 5 years of systems engineering experience in aerospace, defense, or autonomous aircraft systems.
Demonstrated experience defining system behavior logic and operational modes.
Deep expertise in system architecture, avionics integration, and autonomy-driven flight systems.
Proficiency with 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 flight testing, system integration, and performance validation.
Knowledge of DoD acquisition processes, MIL-STD requirements, FAA airworthiness certification, and airborne system safety standards.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver complex projects.
Ability to work in a fast-paced agile development environment with shifting priorities.
Experience working on a developmental program from clean sheet through first flight.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing AI-driven autonomy for unmanned aircraft.
Expertise in ISR, EW, and advanced sensor integration for airborne platforms.
Familiarity with modular open system architectures (MOSA) and Government Reference Architectures (GRA) for defense applications.
Prior experience working with defense primes, DoD stakeholders, or government R&D programs.
Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

Develop and refine the next-generation UAS system architecture, integrating avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensor payloads, and mission systems.
Define and document system-level behavior, including modes, states, transitions, and fault responses.
Support safety analyses, including FHA, FMEA, and FTA, by defining behavior under fault conditions.
Establish top-level system requirements, decompose them into subsystem requirements, and maintain traceability across the development lifecycle.
Work with autonomy and software teams to integrate AI-driven flight control, decision-making, and mission execution capabilities.
Use MBSE tools to create digital system models, conduct trade studies, and optimize system performance.
Evaluate design alternatives, assess technical risks, and identify engineering solutions that support mission effectiveness.
Engage DoD stakeholders, industry partners, and government agencies to align system capabilities with operational requirements.
Collaborate with hardware, autonomy, software, propulsion, and flight operations teams to drive system integration and rapid development.