Posted in

Senior Software Engineer – Autonomy Flight Test and Demonstration

Senior Software Engineer – Autonomy Flight Test and Demonstration

CompanyShield AI
LocationSan Diego, CA, USA
Salary$129467 – $194201
TypeFull-Time
DegreesBachelor’s
Experience LevelSenior

Requirements

  • B.S in Computer Science, AI, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering or similar.
  • 5+ years of experience in software development (C++, Python).
  • Experience working with UAV flight software, autonomy, or robotics systems.
  • Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills, particularly in real-time field environments.
  • Familiarity with flight controllers (PX4, ArduPilot, or similar) and UAV integration workflows.
  • Experience conducting field tests and live demonstrations with autonomous systems.
  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally (30%).
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to work directly with customers in high-stakes environments.

Responsibilities

  • Support live customer demonstrations of Hivemind autonomy by setting up and operating software on UAVs in field environments.
  • Develop, test, and debug software components for flight operations, ensuring seamless integration of Hivemind SDK onto customer platforms.
  • Conduct flight testing of UAV autonomy, logging results, debugging issues, and providing feedback to the autonomy development team.
  • Work cross-functionally with engineering, product, and customer success teams to refine software configurations and optimize mission performance.
  • Analyze and document flight test results, providing actionable insights to improve autonomy, controls, and user experience.
  • Collaborate directly with customers, pilots, and engineers to tailor UAV behavior and troubleshoot technical challenges.
  • Contribute to automation tools for telemetry collection, flight data analysis, and debugging.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Hands-on experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) or software-in-the-loop (SIL) simulation for UAV testing.
  • Prior experience in DoD programs, military UAV operations, or aerospace/defense testing.
  • Experience working with MAVLink, RTPS, or DDS-based communication protocols.
  • FAA Part 107 certification or experience operating UAVs in field environments.