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Senior Engineer, Software Integration – Fleet Support (R5079)

Dallas, Texas
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Software Engineer (Integration) to serve as the software SME for the V-BAT Fleet Support team. In this role, you will own customer-facing engineering support for software issues affecting aircraft operations, onboard software, mission software, ground control interactions, logging, configuration, and subsystem integration across the fielded fleet.

You will serve as the bridge between Fleet Support and the software, autonomy, avionics, and systems engineering teams, helping transform field-reported issues into reproducible technical findings, corrective actions, and long-term product improvements.

What you'll do:

  • Serve as the software SME for Fleet Support and lead escalated investigations involving fielded aircraft and mission software.
  • Triage and root-cause software issues affecting aircraft behavior, mission execution, subsystem integration, logging, configuration, and deployed operations.
  • Reproduce customer-reported issues in lab, simulation, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments.
  • Analyze logs, telemetry, and system state to distinguish software defects from hardware, network, installation, or operator-workflow issues.
  • Debug integration points across onboard compute, ground control applications, payload interfaces, and external software dependencies.
  • Troubleshoot application programming interface (API) issues, configuration issues, and software-to-hardware interactions in operational environments.
  • Build and maintain lightweight tools, scripts, and automated checks that improve triage quality, reproducibility, and field support efficiency.
  • Support release readiness, validation, software deployment troubleshooting, and recovery planning for customer-facing operations.
  • Turn recurring fleet issues into actionable bug reports, engineering requirements, and product-improvement recommendations.

Required qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • 5+ years of experience in software engineering for robotics, autonomy, aerospace, unmanned aircraft systems, embedded systems, or other mission-critical platforms.
  • Strong programming skills in C++ and Python.
  • Strong Linux troubleshooting and systems-debug experience.
  • Experience debugging software that interfaces with hardware, sensors, networks, or distributed systems.
  • Ability to turn vague field symptoms into structured, reproducible technical findings.
  • Strong communication skills in cross-functional and customer-facing environments.
  • Ability to possess a Secret DoD security clearance as required by customers.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience with autonomy software, flight software, embedded avionics software, or ground control software.
  • Experience with simulation, HIL, or automated test tooling.
  • Experience supporting deployed software, integration test, or operational validation efforts.
  • Experience supporting customer-site deployments or operational readiness events.
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 

About Shield AI

Shield AI

Shield AI is a defense technology company building autonomous AI systems for aircraft, drones, and intelligent mission software used in complex military environments. Founded in 2015, the company is best known for developing Hivemind, an AI pilot system that enables aircraft and drones to operate autonomously in contested and GPS-denied environments, supporting U.S. and allied defense missions.

For job seekers, Shield AI offers opportunities across advanced fields including artificial intelligence, robotics, software engineering, autonomy systems, aerospace engineering, embedded systems, and mission operations. The company is especially attractive to engineers, AI researchers, and defense professionals who want to work on real-world autonomous systems that are actively being deployed in operational military scenarios.

Unlike traditional defense contractors, Shield AI operates with a startup-style engineering culture focused on rapid experimentation, real-world testing, and fast deployment of autonomous capabilities. Employees work on tightly integrated AI and robotics systems that combine perception, decision-making, and control, enabling platforms to operate without direct human input in highly complex environments.

As modern warfare increasingly shifts toward autonomous systems, distributed sensing, and AI-enabled decision-making, Shield AI continues to grow as one of the most prominent companies in next-generation defense technology. For professionals seeking to build cutting-edge autonomy systems with direct mission impact, Shield AI stands out as a leading employer in the defense innovation ecosystem.

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