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:
The Systems & Platform Integration team serves as the engineering bridge between Hivemind autonomy and operational platforms across Shield AI’s Expeditionary and Emerging Operations portfolio. Our mission is to rapidly enable new platform adoption by developing the software interfaces, configurations, and integration frameworks required to connect autonomy with vehicle systems, sensors, payloads, mission computers, and communications systems.
As a Software Integration Engineer (L1), you will work alongside experienced engineers to develop the software interfaces that connect Hivemind with real-world platforms. You will gain hands-on experience writing C++ integration software, working with device and vehicle interfaces, configuring Linux-based mission computers, and troubleshooting data flow across distributed systems. You will support integration and validation activities across Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Vehicle-in-the-Loop (VIL), lab, and field environments.
What you'll do:
Develop C++ software interfaces between Hivemind and sensors, flight controllers, payloads, radios, and vehicle systems.
Build and maintain interface blocks, platform adapters, and middleware components.
Integrate data from sensors and vehicle systems into autonomy software.
Implement and debug communication interfaces using protocols such as MAVLink, serial, TCP/UDP, and multicast.
Configure and deploy software on Linux-based mission computers.
Support SIL, HIL, VIL, and lab integration testing.
Develop Python scripts and tools for testing, configuration, data analysis, and troubleshooting.
Debug issues involving software interfaces, data formats, timing, networking, configuration, and system behavior.
Work with autonomy, systems, test, and flight teams to integrate and validate software on new platforms.
Required qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent practical experience may be considered.
Programming experience in C++ through coursework, projects, research, or student teams.
Familiarity with Linux and basic software debugging.
Understanding of basic programming concepts such as classes, data structures, interfaces, and object-oriented programming.
Interest in robotics, embedded software, distributed systems, autonomy, or aerospace systems.
Strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
Preferred qualifications:
Experience with robotics or engineering teams such as FIRST Robotics.
Familiarity with ROS/ROS 2, ArduPilot, PX4, MAVLink, or similar frameworks and protocols.
Experience with CMake, Git, Docker, or other C++ development tools.
Familiarity with serial, CAN, TCP/UDP, multicast, or other communication interfaces.
Experience working with sensors, flight controllers, embedded systems, or mission computers.
Coursework or projects involving robotics, embedded systems, networking, controls, or autonomous systems.
Python experience for scripting, testing, or data analysis.
