Engineer II – New Grad - Software, Autonomy Capabilities

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. 

The Autonomy Capabilities team develops reusable mission behaviors, motion-planning, decision-making, and multi-agent software that can be integrated across unmanned platforms. We validate capabilities in simulation and representative system environments before they are used by integration teams.

As an Engineer II, you will deliver bounded autonomy features and tests using established technical direction. You will investigate moderately defined behavior and integration issues, explain tradeoffs in your area, and work with adjacent teams to make capabilities usable. Senior engineers remain responsible for larger architecture and cross-program technical direction.

What you'll do
* Implement C++ changes to planning, mission behavior, coordination, or contingency capabilities using established designs.
* Build unit, integration, and simulation tests; define expected results for assigned work and investigate failures.
* Analyze logs and scenario results to identify behavioral, configuration, or interface issues and verify fixes.
* Help integrate reusable capabilities with platform and mission software, perception inputs, and operator-facing interfaces.
* Improve examples, documentation, configuration, and developer tools that make a capability easier to validate and adopt.
* Coordinate with autonomy, perception, integration, simulation, and GCS/C2 teammates on assigned interfaces.
* Communicate progress, risks, test evidence, and open questions in reviews and debriefs.

We are seeking Autonomous Software Engineers for full-time roles starting in 2027! This is a paid, in-person, full-time position for students graduating during the 2026-2027 academic year. We are now reviewing applications for positions starting after graduation in 2027. 

Required Qualifications

* Currently pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field, graduating between December 2026 and August 2027.
* Typically 2+ years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree, or equivalent work experience; relevant graduate work or substantial project experience may be considered.
* Working proficiency in C++ or Python and ability to contribute in the other language with support.
* Experience with Linux development, Git, debugging, and automated software tests.
* Applied experience through work, research, or substantial projects in robotics, planning, controls, AI, simulation, or autonomy software.
* Ability to complete a bounded feature with tests and communicate where guidance or design decisions are needed.
* Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

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  * Experience with motion planning, state machines, multi-agent coordination, decision-making, or optimization.
  * Experience with robotics middleware, simulation frameworks, CI, or distributed systems.
  * Familiarity with integrating algorithms into production software and evaluating behavior in representative scenarios.

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.