Principal Engineer, Sensors Integration (R4309)
Shield AI
Dallas, TX, USA
USD 270k-410k / year + Equity
Posted on Dec 20, 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.
Job Description:
As a Principal Sensors Integration Engineer, you will play a key role in the Sensors Group on the State Estimation team, driving integration, testing, and sensor performance to support the deployment of advanced sensor fusion algorithms for autonomous UAV navigation in dynamic and contested environments. You will collaborate closely with autonomy researchers, software engineers, and hardware teams to ensure seamless system performance.
Your expertise will contribute to transitioning cutting-edge research into deployable solutions, helping Shield AI push the boundaries of UAV autonomy and situational awareness.
What you'll do:
- Analyze sensor performance to evaluate accuracy, reliability, and suitability for state estimation algorithms.
- Develop subsystem test plans and procedures to validate sensor functionality and verify performance during integration into UAS platforms.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with electrical, mechanical, embedded software, and GNC teams to architect and integrate sensor subsystems into aircraft systems.
- Drive innovation in sensing technologies by researching and assessing cutting-edge sensors used to enhance state estimation algorithms.
Required qualifications:
- Typically requires a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree; or 14 years with a master’s degree; or a PhD with 12 years of experience; or equivalent practical experience.
- Deep experience integrating sensor hardware (IMUs, GPS receivers, cameras, radars, etc.) with real-time software processing
- Experience with signal processing techniques
- Comfort with Linux, scripting, and standard development and analysis tools
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills; ability to work across engineering disciplines and with external partners.
- Proven track record of successfully shipping products, showcasing the ability to navigate through development cycles, overcome obstacles, and deliver high-quality solutions to meet project deadlines and exceed expectations in a fast-paced environment.
- You have a demonstrated record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with CUDA or other hardware acceleration technologies (e.g. FPGAs)
- Proficiency with C++11 or newer; experience with real-time operating environments.
- Proven track record of transitioning from R&D to production
- Navigation and state estimation experience
- Familiarity with network communication protocols (CAN, RTP, etc) and basic troubleshooting tools (e.g. Wireshark)
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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.
270000 - 410000 USD a year