Senior Software Engineer, Simulation (R3938)
Shield AI
Software Engineering
Dallas, TX, USA
USD 125k-175k / year + Equity
Posted on Oct 22, 2025
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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.
The Software Integration & Operations (SIO) team is a cross-discipline group of engineers building the infrastructure, automation, and tools that enable fast but rigorous delivery of aircraft software. We work closely with Autonomy software, Embedded software, GNC, Propulsion, and System Test teams to provide the integration environments, test systems, and simulation capabilities required to validate complex autonomous aircraft. Shield AI is building groundbreaking autonomous aviation technologies — SIO ensures they can be tested, qualified, and delivered with speed and confidence.
As a Software Simulation Engineer, you will design and scale simulation capabilities for the V-BAT and future aircraft platforms. You’ll develop tooling, frameworks, and workflows that integrate across disciplines — from aerodynamics to propulsion to guidance and control — enabling engineers to test software in simulation with speed, fidelity, and scale. Your solutions will serve as both a daily development tool and a critical gate in the release process, directly influencing the safety, reliability, and performance of deployed aircraft.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Design, develop, and optimize high-performance simulation frameworks.
- Align needs and priorities across many teams and disciplines
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, autonomy engineers, and aerodynamics engineers, to ensure the simulation accurately reflects real-world conditions.
- Integrate basic physics principles into simulations to enhance realism and accuracy.
- Conduct testing and validation of simulation frameworks to ensure performance and reliability.
- Stay updated with the latest advancements in simulation technologies and apply them to our systems.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- BS in Computer Science or related engineering field with 3+ years of professional experience.
- Passion for simulation and testing with the goal of ensuring safety and reliability at scale.
- Experience building simulation within DevOps environments in addition to experience with DevOps tools and infrastructure.
- Interest in aerospace and autonomous vehicles.
- Strong foundation in modern C++, including a deep understanding of memory management, performance optimization, and debugging.
- Experience with robotics concepts, including node-based architectures such as ROS or similar middleware frameworks.
- Foundational knowledge of statistics and its application in software development, testing, and data analysis.
- Experience building and compiling code in complex software environments, including debugging build errors and managing dependencies.
- Solid understanding of mathematics (especially linear algebra) and foundational physics, with the ability to interpret technical papers and algorithms effectively.
- Eagerness to learn, adapt, and grow in a collaborative team environment, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and communication.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and/or containerized application development
- Familiarity with rigid body dynamics (e.g. Euler’s equations, quaternions), aerodynamics, propulsion systems, etc.
- Experience with Python 3 and data science frameworks (e.g. NumPy, Pandas, Dagster)
- Experience with robotics concepts, including node-based architectures such as ROS or similar middleware frameworks.
- Experience building simulation within DevOps environments in addition to experience with DevOps tools and infrastructure.
#LI-SM1
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.
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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.
125000 - 175000 USD a year