Senior Engineer, Software

Overview

Senior Engineer, Software - Perception (R3771) at Shield AI. Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Our Perception Engineers create the situational awareness that enables autonomous unmanned aircraft to operate in complex and contested environments, using real-time object detection, sensor fusion, and state estimation across diverse mission sensors.

• Develop advanced perception algorithms for object detection, classification, and multi-target tracking across diverse sensor modalities.
• Implement sensor fusion frameworks by integrating data from vision systems, radars, and other sensors to generate accurate situational awareness.
• Develop state estimation capabilities for localization and pose estimation using IMU, GPS, vision, and other inputs to enable stable navigation.
• Analyze and utilize sensor ICDs to ensure correct data handling, interpretation, and synchronization.
• Optimize perception performance through tuning and evaluating pipelines for real-time efficiency in simulation and real-world environments.
• Support autonomy integration by interfacing perception outputs with planning, behaviors, and decision-making modules.
• Validate algorithms in simulated and operational settings using synthetic data, simulation environments, and field tests.
• Collaborate with hardware and sensor teams to ensure seamless integration with onboard compute and sensor payloads.
• Drive innovation in airborne sensing with state-of-the-art techniques for unmanned aircraft in GPS-denied or contested environments.
• Travel typically 10–15% of the year to different office locations, customer sites, and flight integration events.

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Typically 5+ years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 4 years with a Master’s; or 2 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
• Background in Kalman Filters, multi-target tracking, or deep learning-based detection models.
• Familiarity with sensor fusion (radar, EO/IR cameras, or other sensors) using probabilistic or rule-based approaches.
• Familiarity with SLAM, visual-inertial odometry, or sensor-fused localization in real-time apps.
• Ability to interpret and work with ICDs and hardware integration specs.
• Proficiency with version control, debugging, and test-driven development in cross-functional teams.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

• Hands-on integration or algorithm development with airborne sensing systems.
• Experience with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow for vision-based tasks.
• Experience deploying perception software on SWaP-constrained platforms.
• Familiarity with validating perception systems during flight test events or operational environments.
• Understanding of sensing challenges in denied or degraded conditions.
• Exposure to perception applications across air, maritime, and ground platforms.

$160,000 - $240,000 a year

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 skill set, experience, licenses/certifications, and location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Speak with 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.