Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration – Expeditionary

Job overview

The Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration – Expeditionary role is onsite in San Diego, CA. Salary is $195,200–$292,800 per year. The role supports Shield AI’s Expeditionary team, which develops autonomy for V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. The engineer leads complex autonomy integration from architecture through field deployment, coordinating across software, hardware, aircraft, and operations teams. The work advances mission readiness for defense customers while improving integration practices and mentoring engineers.

What you'll do

• Lead technical execution of autonomy capabilities
• integrate mission autonomy, payloads, flight-control interfaces, and multi-agent behaviors onto V-BAT and X-BAT
• define integration approaches
• influence architecture and interface design
• lead design reviews
• mentor engineers
• support flight tests, demonstrations, and deployments
• implement C2 interfaces using open-systems standards.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

staff software engineer

autonomous pilot integration

expeditionary

san diego ca

shield ai

c++

linux

autonomy software

v-bat

x-bat

10–20% travel

$195,200–$292,800/year

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Full-time regular employee package includes bonus, benefits, and equity
• temporary employee benefits may apply after 60 days.

Why this role

The team typically travels 10–20% of the year; ability to obtain a SECRET clearance is required.

About the employer

Shield AI is hiring for this role. Industry: Engineering Services. Sector: 54.