> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/1172070-principal-engineer-software](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/1172070-principal-engineer-software). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Engineer, Software - **Company:** Lever, Inc. - **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $220,000.0 - $330,000.0 - **Contract:** Temporary contract - **Skills:** Clean Code Principles, JavaScript (Programming Language), Geographic Information Systems, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Amazon Web Services, Unit Testing, Microsoft Azure, Bug Tracking Systems, C++ (Programming Language), Cloud Computing, Software Documentation, Continuous Integration, Software Debugging, Linux, Middleware, Video Game Development, Revision Control Systems, HTTP Live Streaming, Web Portals, Python (Programming Language), Node.Js, Object-Oriented Software Development, Service-Oriented Architecture, Software Construction, Software Engineering, Software Systems, TypeScript, User Interface Testing, Web Applications, WebSocket, WebGL, Rust (Programming Language), Google Cloud, Cloud Platform System, ReactJS, Large Language Models, Generative AI, Git, Playwright, Front End Software Development, Multiaccess Edge Computing, Docker, Golang - **Published:** July 3, 2026 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/22e914d8-488d-4f22-96a9-61dd4b15ea04/apply ## About the Role * 15+ years experience developing large, production quality software systems. * Excellent grasp of software development and coding principles with high productivity in a mainstream language (e.g. Typescript, C++, Go, Python, Rust, etc.). * Strong knowledge of modern software engineering best practices; Experience with Git and code management tools; Good software hygiene regarding code documentation, unit testing, bug tracking. * 5+ years of experience with React/Node/Typescript/Javascript development. * 5+ years of experience with Web applications development ("Front-End" or "Full-stack"). * Deep understanding full-stack web development (Document-Object Model (DOM), browser APIs, standards, semantics, Websockets, HTTP Streaming and Server-Sent Events (SSE), Client and UI state management; best practises and strategies, as they apply to React-based rendering, Advanced SPA routing, URL-based state persistence,sharing mechanisms, Seamless content loading states and progressive rendering techniques.) * Multi-modal input handling (text, files, images, audio). Experience with client-side LLM Context Management * Fluid intelligence that allows one to operate effectively in sometimes ambiguous conditions, while finding opportunities to drive technical efforts and force multiply. * Experience with Linux, Docker, and CI/CD environments. * Hands-on experience with a major cloud platform (Azure, GCP, AWS). * This role requires travel to a Shield AI location 1-3 times per quarter, * Experience with geospatial data and WebGL. * Experience with Playwright UI testing * Experience with Electron (or similar). * Building debugging/inspection UIs for generative AI systems * Experience with user experience design video games * Experience designing for "Low Code" or "No Code" systems * Experience and/or comfort reading C++ and/or Python and/or Typescript ## Description The Special Projects team at Shield AI is an elite force within the office of the CTO. It consists of a group of very senior (L5-L8) and highly experienced software engineering experts from diverse fields (aerospace, robotics, cloud infrastructure, game development, interactive media design, ...). The charter of this group is to steer technology development towards strategic alignment with the CTO's vision, through tactical insertion into teams and technologies across the organization. Individuals within this team make direct and at times forward-sprinting contributions to all three pillars of Hivemind, Shield AI's software ecosystem for developing and deploying resilient intelligent teaming for aircrafts. Hivemind consists of four products: EdgeOS (C++ based high-performance middleware for autonomy development), Pilot (autonomy for the edge built atop EdgeOS; a models-based, modular and open architecture C++ codebase), Forge (Shield AI's AI Factory for the design, development, and testing of Hivemind Edge systems; a service-oriented architecture leveraged through an SDK, CLI, and web portal; a Go, Python, Typescript codebase), Commander (Software and hardware to support rich human-in-the-loop and human-on-the-loop interactions with the Hivemind; a C++-based back-end for interaction with Pilot; and a web-application UI for mission planning, command and control by operators implemented in a Typescript/React codebase). The Special Projects team is chartered to operate effectively within ambiguity. While this team does not own any software products, it tactically and strategically impacts the development of all foundational Hivemind products and leverages those technologies to rapidly deliver low-TRL solutions. This work happens should-to-shoulder with the product teams in some cases, and in a forward-sprinting manner within the Special Projects team in other cases. The result is direct contribution to products in the formercase, and development of reference implementations in the latter. The Special Projects team also functions as a pipeline for product and solution engineering teams across the organization. Individuals who enter the Special Projects team rapidly gain depth and breadth in their understanding of the Hivemind software ecosystem. This positions them well for leading technology development effort across the product and solution organization. What you'll do: * Design and prototype generative AI experience focused on accelerating autonomy development * Work closely with members of the Office of the CTO to crystallize the vision of the Hivemind product and its documentation * Lead the user experience design of Hivemind Generative AI * Work closely with the technical leads of Hivemind Commander (mission planning, command and control, air-ground communications) and Hivemind Design (configurations, test and evaluation, rehearsal, analysis) to enhance the user experience of their products * Conduct user research to understand user personae and their needs * Investigate competing products and their user experiences, synthesize findings to present to engineering and product leadership ## Related Videos - [Rendering Design Software in the Browser at Penpot](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1353-rendering-design-software-in-the-browser-at-penpot) - [WeAreDevelopers LIVE - Speeding up with WebGPU](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1876-wearedevelopers-live-speeding-up-with-webgpu) - [Docker network without Docker](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1418-docker-network-without-docker) - [How a Small Team Shrank a Microsoft Monorepo by 94%](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1236-how-a-small-team-shrank-a-microsoft-monorepo-by-94) - [WeAreDevelopers LIVE – From JavaScript to WebAssembly, High-Performance Charting and More](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1794-wearedevelopers-live-from-javascript-to-webassembly-high-performance-charting-and-more) - [Under the Hood of Building on Lovable](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100032-under-the-hood-of-building-on-lovable) ## Related Articles - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline) - [Dev Digest 129 - Now that's what I call private data!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/468-dev-digest-129-now-that-s-what-i-call-private-data) - [Dev Digest 132 - Binging WADFlix?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/473-dev-digest-132-binging-wadflix) - [Dev Digest 131 - AI'm not sure about OSS](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/472-dev-digest-131-ai-m-not-sure-about-oss) - [Dev Digest 130 - The Diablo is in the details](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/470-dev-digest-130-the-diablo-is-in-the-details)