Staff Software Engineer, Embedded Firmware - Shield AI

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company whose mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. In pursuit of this mission, Shield AI is building the world’s best AI pilot. Its AI pilot, Hivemind, has flown a fighter jet (F-16), a vertical takeoff and landing drone (V-BAT), and a quadcopter (Nova). The company has offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington DC and abroad. Shield AI’s products and people are currently in the field actively supporting operations with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. allies. 

Job Description: 

The VBAT Software team is a motivated group of engineers focused on developing complex avionics software that merges hardware, operating systems and applications for cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Embedded Software engineers work with customer programs, electrical engineers, Guidance, Navigation and Controls (GNC) engineers, systems engineers, test engineers and the autonomy team to design and develop software systems which utilize modern aerospace sensors, state-of-the-art UAV avionics, and groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence applications. 

As a member of the VBAT Software team, you will develop and maintain software architectures, generate and maintain all levels of software requirements, document and present software designs, coordinate software development, and marshal the entire suite of VBAT software through test and verification, release, and deployment to production and customers. 

WHAT YOULL DO:

• Develop high-quality C/C++ code tailored specifically for V-Bat aircraft, ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and safety. 

• Refine repository of existing firmware to support new hardware, features, and capabilities  

• Integrate real-time operating system onto custom System-On-a-Module (SOM) 

• Develop firmware to control robotic vehicles in flight 

• Convert legacy bare-metal software to a RTOS based system 

• Create new CI/CD pipelines with automated testing for embedded systems 

• Participate in architecture, design, and code reviews 

• Integrate software from multiple departments to include firmware, software test and verification, Autonomy AI, and Ground Control Stations (GCS) 

• Develop software systems to implement and integrate interfaces to modern avionics sensors, sub-systems, and payloads 

• Facilitate the design process for updates to the software system architecture  

• Use modern software development tools and processes to capture our existing architecture and design future architectures 

• Collaborating to define and extend systems engineering processes  

• Report status, risks, accomplishments, expectations to senior leadership    

• Work with the V-Bat production teams to manufacture UAVs in-house. 

• Design and implement systems capable of conducting tests across various environments, including virtualized hardware and hardware-in-the-loop simulations, to facilitate thorough evaluation of software functionality and performance. 

• Develop innovative tools to enhance the frequency and reliability of software deployment, test execution, and data analysis within a continuous integration and release system, fostering improved efficiency and productivity in software development workflows. 

• Create prototypes to validate critical design concepts and assess technical limitations, providing tangible evidence of feasibility and informing decision-making processes. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Rock-solid software development experience in C/C++ 

• Experience in bare-metal firmware development for embedded systems 

• Linux Kernel or RTOS development - device trees and bring up on new hardware 

• Familiarity with writing thread-safe multi-threaded programs 

• Demonstrated track record of assuming ownership over development processes and features and delivering outstanding outcomes  

• Proven track record of successfully shipping products, showcasing the ability to navigate through development cycles, overcome obstacles, and deliver high-quality solutions to meet project deadlines and exceed client expectations in a fast-paced environment  

• Proactively identify opportunities for improvement within software development projects, demonstrating initiative to propose and implement innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and overall project success and V-Bat reliability  

• B.S., M.S, PhD degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) discipline, such as Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working on cutting-edge autonomous robotic systems  

• Proven background in thriving within fast-paced environments, particularly within startup or R&D settings 

• Demonstrated adaptability, agility, and the ability to innovate under pressure to meet dynamic project demands and drive successful outcomes. 

$157,776 - $236,664 a year