Shield AI

Builds autonomous aircraft for defense

Mission Systems Engineer - Fleet Support

AvionicsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeDallas, TX, USAIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
At least 5 years of experience in payload integration, sensor integration, mission systems, avionics integration, or aircraft systems engineering.
Experience troubleshooting complex systems spanning hardware, software, networking, and operational workflows.
Ability to move between high-level mission context and detailed subsystem investigation.
Experience working across design, integration, test, and field-support environments.
Strong written and verbal communication skills in customer-facing technical settings.

Responsibilities

Serve as the mission systems subject-matter expert for Fleet Support and lead escalated investigations involving payloads, transponders, and externally connected mission systems.
Diagnose payload integration and performance issues involving power, thermal behavior, compute, configuration, data interfaces, timing, and subsystem interoperability.
Troubleshoot systems that communicate with external sources or provide data externally, including mission-data outputs, external interfaces, and system-to-system connectivity issues.
Support the introduction of emerging technologies and new mission capabilities into the fielded fleet by identifying support risks, validation needs, and integration challenges.
Work directly with customers, operators, and maintainers to understand mission impact, reproduce issues, and define corrective actions.
Partner with electrical, software, and radio frequency teams on cross-functional mission-system problems.
Support lab validation, hardware integration, test readiness, and field demonstrations related to mission-system fixes.
Create technical guidance, interface notes, troubleshooting procedures, and customer-facing documentation for fielded mission capabilities.
Capture recurring issues and feed lessons learned back into product, systems, and design teams.

Desired Qualifications

Experience with electro-optical and infrared payloads, radar, transponders, or other externally connected aircraft mission systems.
Experience with interface control documents, validation planning, and flight-test support.
Experience introducing new payloads or mission kits into operational fleets.
Experience with defense, maritime, or expeditionary mission systems.

Salary Range: 140000 to 210000 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

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:

Shield AI is seeking a Mission Systems Engineer to serve as the mission systems SME for the V-BAT Fleet Support team. In this role, you will own customer-facing engineering support for payload system issues, transponder system issues, emerging mission-technology integrations, and systems that communicate with external sources or provide data externally.

You will serve as the bridge between Fleet Support and the mission systems, payload, software, electrical, and communications engineering teams to ensure customers receive expert engineering support for mission-critical capabilities.

What you'll do:

Serve as the mission systems SME for Fleet Support and lead escalated investigations involving payloads, transponders, and externally connected mission systems.

Diagnose payload integration and performance issues involving power, thermal behavior, compute, configuration, data interfaces, timing, and subsystem interoperability.

Troubleshoot systems that communicate with external sources or provide data externally, including mission-data outputs, external interfaces, and system-to-system connectivity issues.

Support the introduction of emerging technologies and new mission capabilities into the fielded fleet by identifying support risks, validation needs, and integration challenges.

Work directly with customers, operators, and maintainers to understand mission impact, reproduce issues, and define corrective actions.

Partner with electrical, software, and RF teams on cross-functional mission-system problems.

Support lab validation, hardware integration, test readiness, and field demonstrations related to mission-system fixes.

Create technical guidance, interface notes, troubleshooting procedures, and customer-facing documentation for fielded mission capabilities.

Capture recurring issues and feed lessons learned back into product, systems, and design teams.

Required qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.

5+ years of experience in payload integration, sensor integration, mission systems, avionics integration, or aircraft systems engineering.

Experience troubleshooting complex systems that span hardware, software, networking, and operational workflows.

Strong ability to move between high-level mission context and detailed subsystem investigation.

Experience working across design, integration, test, and field-support environments.

Strong written and verbal communication skills in customer-facing technical settings.

Preferred qualifications:

Experience with electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) payloads, radar, transponders, or other externally connected aircraft mission systems.

Experience with interface control documents, validation planning, and flight-test support.

Experience introducing new payloads or mission kits into operational fleets.

Experience with defense, maritime, or expeditionary mission systems.

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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.

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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 the Company

Shield AI

Builds autonomous aircraft for defense

Shield AI builds autonomous aircraft and flight software for military and allied defense customers, with a focus on operations where conventional remote control breaks down. Its Hivemind AI pilot handles decisions during a mission, while the V-BAT aircraft gathers intelligence and locates targets. Aircraft makers use its software tools to develop and test their own autonomy, and its Aechelon business supplies visual and sensor simulation for pilot training. The company earns money from aircraft sales, autonomy software and contracted engineering and operational services. Shield AI was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Company size: 1,001-5,000
Company stage: Series H
Total funding: $4.8B
Headquarters: San Diego, CA
Founded: 2015

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