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Staff Engineer, Core Platform Integration (R5411)

Shield AI shield.ai Open · verified Oct 24, 2026
On-site San Diego Full-time Senior Engineering Leadership

At a glance

Senior Engineering Leadership role at Shield AI. San Diego · full-time · $190,000–$290,000 base.

SalaryStated by Shield AI
$190,000 – $290,000
Base salary for this role, in USD per year, as published in the posting.
This role, from Shield AIOur estimate for the market: $180,000–$224,700Median $200,000
The range includes the market median of $200,000 for senior engineering leadership roles in San Diego.
Worked out from 17 postings that stated pay, median $200,000. Last updated Oct 19, 2026.
RoleEngineering Leadership
SenioritySenior
LocationSan Diego
WorkplaceOn-site
EmploymentFull-time
Base pay$190,000–$290,000
PostedJul 23, 2026 · 3mo ago
Role brief

techroles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

  • Connect SIL, HIL, VIL and edge deployment workflows so platform components work reliably and remain usable for developers
  • Create reference workspaces, implementations and tools that speed software development, testing, deployment and validation
  • Bring together platform software across hardware, sensors, controllers, APIs, configuration and device management
  • Help bring up embedded platforms and adapt software to developer boards, aircraft or vehicle test rigs, and other hardware
  • Improve platform reliability, APIs, developer workflows and scale while closing integration gaps with partner teams

What you bring

  • At least five years of software engineering in robotics, autonomy, embedded or distributed systems, or a comparable complex platform
  • Strong C++ and Python skills, plus experience building developer tools, configuration systems, orchestration frameworks or automation
  • Experience debugging software across Linux, hardware interfaces, deployment setups and APIs, including embedded communication diagnostics
  • An engineering or computer science degree, or a degree in a related field

Who this fits

This senior role suits an engineer who can work independently through unclear technical problems and bring cross-functional integration work to completion. It is an onsite, full-time position in San Diego. Offers require a cleared background check.

From the employer

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:

Build the foundation for the next generation of autonomous systems. In this role, you'll develop and integrate the core software and platform infrastructure that powers mission-critical technology, working across teams to deliver reliable, scalable solutions from development through deployment.

What you'll do:

  • Own platform integration across SIL, HIL, VIL, and edge deployment workflows, ensuring components work together reliably and are easy for developers to use.
  • Build and maintain reference work spaces, platform reference implementations, and tooling that accelerate development, testing, deployment, and validation.
  • Integrate platform-level software across hardware, sensors, controllers, APIs, configuration, orchestration, and fleet/device management systems.
  • Support embedded platform bring-up and hardware diversification across developer boards, iron birds, aircraft/vehicle test platforms, and other reference hardware.
  • Improve platform stability, API quality, developer experience, and system scalability for mission-critical product and customer commitments.
  • Partner with autonomy, hardware, product, and program teams to identify integration gaps and deliver durable solutions.

Required qualifications:

  • 5+ years experience with strong software engineering experience in robotics, autonomy, embedded systems, distributed systems, or similarly complex platforms.
  • Strong experience with C++ and Python and experience building developer tools, configuration systems, orchestration frameworks, or automation.
  • Experience integrating and debugging software across Linux-based systems, hardware interfaces, deployment environments, and APIs, including use of measurement or diagnostic tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or protocol analyzers to debug embedded communication interfaces.
  • B.S. or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
  • Ability to work independently in ambiguous technical areas and drive cross-functional integration efforts to completion.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills

Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience with SIL, HIL, and VIL workflows for autonomy, robotics, aerospace, automotive, or defense systems.
  • Experience with embedded Linux, BSP development, build systems, device trees, bootloaders, or hardware bring-up.
  • Experience with edge deployment, device discovery, fleet management, OTA workflows, or application deployment to remote devices.
  • Experience with platforms such as Jetson, Qualcomm, i.MX8, or similar embedded compute hardware.
  • Experience integrating sensor drivers, controller interfaces, vehicle interfaces, hardware abstraction layers, or reference test platforms.
#LD
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.
Opportunity

Engineering Leadership work from LinkedIn, X, Reddit and Upwork, in one list.

Each morning you get everything that fits, strongest first.

Engineering Leadership$190k+

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By the team behind techroles.

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Opportunity

Engineering Leadership work from LinkedIn, X, Reddit and Upwork, in one list.

Each morning you get everything that fits, strongest first.

Find me work

By the team behind techroles.