Principal Systems Engineering Lead
Shield AI
Software Engineering
Dallas County, TX, USA
Posted on Feb 28, 2025
About Shield AI
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company dedicated to protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Founded in 2015, our flagship autonomy software, Hivemind, enables aircraft and drones to perform complex missions in contested environments with high reliability. Our Australia-based team plays a key role in advancing Shield AI’s mission, collaborating with partners and defense forces to develop cutting-edge autonomous capabilities. With global operations supporting U.S. and allied forces, Shield AI is committed to innovation in defense technology.
For more information, visit www.shield.ai. and follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram.
Job Description
As a Principal Systems Engineer on Shield AI’s next gen UAS program, you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and integrating cutting-edge autonomous aircraft systems for national defense. You will lead the technical execution of system architecture, ensuring seamless integration of avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensor payloads, and mission-critical systems.
This position requires a deep understanding of aerospace systems engineering, autonomy, and complex system integration. You will work cross-functionally with teams in hardware, software, autonomy, flight operations, and manufacturing to develop a scalable, mission-ready platform capable of operating in contested environments.
Your expertise will be critical in defining system requirements, conducting trade studies, ensuring compliance with military and aviation standards, and supporting the aircraft through flight testing and operational deployment.
What you'll do:
- Lead System Architecture & Design: Develop and refine the system architecture for the next gen UAS, ensuring seamless integration of avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensor payloads, and mission systems.
- Define and Manage System Requirements: Establish top-level requirements, decompose them into subsystems, and maintain traceability across the development lifecycle.
- Autonomy & AI Integration: Work closely with autonomy and software teams to integrate AI-driven flight control, decision-making, and mission execution capabilities.
- Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE): Utilize SysML, DOORS, or other MBSE tools to create digital system models, conduct trade studies, and optimize system performance.
- Flight Testing & Performance Optimization: Develop test plans, oversee flight test execution, and analyze test data to refine system design and ensure performance objectives are met.
- Sensor & Avionics Integration: Guide the integration of advanced ISR sensors, electronic warfare systems, and next-gen avionics into the UAS platform.
- Risk Management & Trade Studies: Conduct trade studies to evaluate design alternatives, assess technical risks, and ensure the best engineering solutions for mission effectiveness.
- Stakeholder & Customer Engagement: Work closely with DoD stakeholders, industry partners, and government agencies to align system capabilities with operational requirements.
- Mission Effectiveness & Survivability: Optimize the UAS for contested environments, ensuring high reliability, resilience, and stealth capabilities in denied airspace operations.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with hardware, autonomy, software, propulsion, and flight operations teams to drive seamless system integration and rapid development cycles.
Required qualification:
- 10+ years of experience in systems engineering for aerospace, defense, or autonomous aircraft systems.
- Deep expertise in system architecture, avionics integration, and autonomy-driven flight systems.
- Proficiency in MBSE, DOORS, SysML, or similar system modeling tools for complex systems design and analysis.
- Experience with Group 4 or Group 5 UAS, military aircraft, or autonomous airborne platforms.
- Strong background in flight testing, system integration, and performance validation.
- Knowledge of DoD acquisition processes, MIL-STDs, FAA airworthiness certification, and airborne system safety standards.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive complex projects to successful completion.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile development environment with shifting priorities.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience developing AI-driven autonomy for unmanned aircraft.
- Expertise in ISR, EW, and advanced sensor integration for airborne platforms.
- Familiarity with modular open system architectures (MOSA) for defense applications.
- Prior experience working with defense primes, DoD stakeholders, or government R&D programs.
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one).
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Total package details for Australia based positions:
- Regular employee positions: Salary + Equity
- Temporary employee positions: Hourly pay
- Interns/Part-time not eligible for bonus, benefits or equity
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.
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.