Design and implement high-performance middleware, runtime services, tooling, and foundational software for Shield AI’s EdgeOS and Hivemind autonomy systems. Develop across Linux, real-time operating systems, and resource-constrained embedded platforms. Contribute to interface definition languages, debugging and observability tools, automated testing, documentation, architecture, code reviews, technical guidance, and mentorship while collaborating with autonomy, systems, simulation, and test engineering teams.
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.
Shield AI is seeking a Senior Engineer to help design and develop the middleware framework upon which Shield AI autonomy is developed. As part of the Hivemind Foundations team, you’ll focus on building the high-performant, reliable, and robust foundational layer of the Hivemind SDK, EdgeOS. The Hivemind Foundations team ensures that autonomous systems have the functionality required to deploy to platforms operating in some of the most restrictive and demanding environments around the world. They also create the tools that enable autonomy engineers develop, understand, debug, and rapidly iterate on complex autonomous systems.
What you'll do:
- Own the architecture and implementation of features critical to EdgeOS and EdgeOS RT middleware.
- Develop runtime services and abstractions that operate across Linux, real-time operating system, and resource-constrained computing platforms.
- Design and develop the tooling used to evaluate, observe, and debug autonomous systems.
- Contribute to and extend EdgeOS Language, Hivemind’s interface definition language, which defines how data is represented within autonomous systems, between agents, and with third-party systems.
- Collaborate closely with autonomy, systems, simulation, and test engineers to deliver capabilities from initial design to integration.
- Raise the engineering bar though design and code reviews, technical guidance, documentation, and mentorship.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years with a Master’s; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
- Strong proficiency in C++11 or newer in a production environment.
- Experience designing, developing, and debugging multithreaded systems.
- Experience developing software for real time operating systems and embedded platforms.
- Strong understanding of systems programming concepts, including concurrency, memory management, resource constraints, and performance optimization.
- Experience writing automated tests and clear technical documentation.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with C++17 or newer standards.
- Experience writing MISRA C++ or comparable coding standards for safety-critical or airborne systems.
- Experience with systems engineering design principles and requirements.
- Experience software assurance frameworks such as DO-178C.
- Familiarity with ROS2 or similar robotics frameworks.
- Experience with interface definition languages, serialization systems, or code-generation tooling.
- Knowledge of CMake and Nix build systems.
- Experience profiling and debugging complex software across multiple hardware and operating-system environments.
#LI-KC3
#LC
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.
Similar Jobs at Shield AI
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Leads enterprise strategy and operational execution across aerospace, defense, AI, hardware, software, and international growth. Responsibilities include strategic planning, portfolio tradeoff analysis, market sizing, competitive analysis, financial modeling, capital allocation, business case development, KPI tracking, performance reviews, root-cause analysis, and cross-functional execution. The role requires influencing senior stakeholders and translating strategic priorities into measurable outcomes.
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Lead multi-year strategic planning and annual operating cycles, evaluate portfolio tradeoffs, build financial models for capital allocation, and translate strategy into cross-functional execution plans with KPIs. Conduct market sizing, competitive analysis, scenario modeling, and track performance through operating cadences to identify bottlenecks and recommend solutions.
Top Skills:
AechelonHivemindV-BatX-Bat
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Integrate, validate, and deploy autonomy software across simulations, hardware-in-the-loop environments, and flight platforms. Configure sensors, interfaces, and platform adapters; develop integration tooling, deployment scripts, and configuration management; troubleshoot system behavior using logs, telemetry, and rosbag data; optimize CI/CD workflows; validate requirements and interface contracts; and collaborate with engineering, product, DevOps, and customer teams to deliver reliable autonomous systems.
Top Skills:
Autonomous SystemsC++Ci/CdCommunication InterfacesEmbedded SystemsHardware-In-The-Loop (Hil)MiddlewareNetworkingOperating SystemsPythonRadio CommunicationsRoboticsRosRosbagSensor DriversSimulation ToolsSoftware-In-The-Loop (Sil)
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
