Software Engineer II, Autonomy Behaviors (R4587)

Shield AI•Washington, DC

About The Position

As an Engineer II, you’ll help build and test the autonomy behaviors that power our unmanned systems, working closely with experienced engineers to bring new capabilities to life. You’ll focus on implementing and validating well-defined features while developing your skills in autonomy, robotics, and large-scale software systems. In this role, you’ll gain exposure to how autonomy software moves from concept to real-world deployment, contributing to systems that operate in complex, high-stakes environments.

Requirements

BS in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
Experience in production-level C++ software development
2-3 years of experience in one or more of the following: software sub-system scheduling and integration, behavior planning, task and resource allocation, motion planning, optimization, or flight controls
Experience with collaborative software development tools for version control, issue tracking, code reviews, release management
Ability to contribute to the design, development, and integration of complex software systems as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to learn new technologies in a fast-paced environment
Willingness to collaborate closely with teammates and support team objectives
Interest in growing technical skills and, over time, providing guidance to more junior engineers
Desire to work in a highly collaborative, fast paced, and mission-driven environment
Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

Nice To Haves

Exposure to systems operating at different technology readiness levels (TRLs) through academic, research, or internship experience
Experience in the delivery of a military mission system
Familiarity with mission systems integration concepts, testing, or demonstrations
Experience (academic or project-based) in one or more of the following areas: Motion planning, behavior planning, or multi-agent coordination
Expose to autonomy, control, or decision-making systems
Safety mechanisms such as collision avoidance or constraint enforcement
Familiarity with robotic software tools (e.g., ROS, OMPL, or similar frameworks)
Experience using simulation environments for development or testing
Basic understanding of navigation and/or communications systems
Awareness of the software or systems development lifecycle
Familiarity with systems engineering fundamentals
Exposure to high-assurance or safety-critical software concepts (e.g., DO-178C or similar)

Responsibilities

Implement tactical autonomy software features that enable unmanned platforms to perform complex missions across air, land, sea, and space domains
Develop and test behaviors supporting coordination, target engagement, reconnaissance, and survivability in contested scenarios
Participate in the software development lifecycle, including implementation, testing, debugging, and supporting verification and validation efforts
Collaborate with senior engineers to integrate software components with broader system elements (e.g., sensor processing, communications, and actuation)
Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code following established engineering standards and team practices
Support integration and testing across simulation and real-world environments
Work with cross-functional teams to understand requirements and support successful feature delivery
Continue building expertise in software engineering, autonomy, and robotics systems
Travel up to 20% to support testing, integration, and collaboration with partner teams