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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Engineer, Software Architect (R4562) - **Company:** Shield AI - **Location:** Dallas, TX, United States - **Contract:** Temporary contract - **Skills:** Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Static Program Analysis, Continuous Integration, Software Design Patterns, Middleware, Software Architecture, Software Engineering, Data Streaming, Systems Integration, Information Technology, Low Latency - **Published:** July 21, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/9044595/principal-engineer-software-architect-r4562 ## About the Role * Deep expertise in software architecture for complex, multi-domain systems-ideally aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, or similarly safety-critical fields. * Proven track record designing and delivering production software that must satisfy stringent safety, security, or mission assurance requirements. * Strong systems thinking: able to navigate tradeoffs across performance, latency, reliability, testability, and certification or compliance considerations. * Excellent written and verbal communication; able to convey architecture vision and rationale to engineers, program leads, and stakeholders. * Experience driving architecture adoption and discipline across multiple teams, not just authoring designs in isolation. * Bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, or a closely related field, or equivalent practical experience. * Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired. * Familiarity with aerospace software assurance frameworks or standards that guide high-assurance airborne software development. * Experience working on or integrating autonomy, mission planning, or AI-enabled software into real-world systems. * Strong understanding of cyber hardening and secure design practices for distributed or networked vehicle systems and ground infrastructure. * Prior leadership or mentor role with responsibility for building and scaling architecture practices and design culture in a fast-moving engineering organization. * Experience dealing with constrained platforms: real-time requirements, limited compute, or avionics-style integration challenges. * Hands-on experience in VTOL or other advanced aircraft programs, or in programs that require austere operations, long-range operations, or resilient autonomy. * Exposure to end-to-end product lifecycle from concept through flight test or operational deployment. * Practical knowledge of modern software tooling that supports traceability, CI/CD, automated verification, static analysis, or high-assurance pipelines. * Comfort working in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment where requirements can evolve quickly and architecture must adapt without losing rigor. ## Description * Define and evolve the system-wide software architecture for XBAT, spanning airborne vehicle, ground station, and autonomy layers. * Translate safety and security goals into technical requirements, standards, and design patterns that guide engineers across multiple software teams. * Ensure architecture supports safety-critical and cyber-relevant workflows. This includes formalizing architecture decisions, traceability, and compliance pathways appropriate for advanced airborne systems. * Drive cross-team alignment on APIs, data flows, fault handling, verification strategy, and risk management so mission, vehicle, and autonomy components integrate cleanly. * Partner with engineering leadership, system architects, and validation teams to balance innovation speed with rigorous assurance practices. * Set technical direction for long-term scalability: modularity, maintainability, testability, and support for future capability growth or certification needs. * Mentor senior engineers and architects, raising the bar for design rigor, documentation quality, and architectural judgment across the organization. * Produce and maintain architecture artifacts: high-level system diagrams, component interfaces, data models, risk analyses, and design rationales. * Lead technical reviews for major features, changes, or integration points; ensure alignment with architectural standards and safety/security constraints. * Define architecture governance: decision records, change control processes, quality gates, and collaboration flows among development, verification, and operations. * Collaborate with systems, hardware, and avionics teams to manage boundaries, timing, resource allocation, and failure modes that affect overall aircraft and mission performance. * Drive technology evaluation and roadmap: select or validate frameworks, middleware, and tooling that meet performance, assurance, and cyber-hardening needs. * Support external or internal readiness evaluations: provide architectural evidence, participate in reviews, and help the program articulate compliance posture as requirements evolve. * Advocate for continuous improvement in architecture practice: metrics, architecture reviews, knowledge sharing, and onboarding for new team members. ## Related Videos - [Developer’s Perspective: Overview of the Tezos Blockchain Ecosystem](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/237-developer-s-perspective-overview-of-the-tezos-blockchain-ecosystem) - [Swapping Low Latency Data Storage Under High Load](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/746-swapping-low-latency-data-storage-under-high-load) - [Python-Based Data Streaming Pipelines Within Minutes](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1233-python-based-data-streaming-pipelines-within-minutes) - [The Software Engineer 2030: From Coder To AI Orchestrator? - Patrick Schnell](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1825-the-software-engineer-2030-from-coder-to-ai-orchestrator-patrick-schnell) - [A Guide To Functional Programming](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/408-a-guide-to-functional-programming) - [Your AI Ships Code Faster Than Anyone Can Review It](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100120-your-ai-ships-code-faster-than-anyone-can-review-it) ## Related Articles - [How software is steering vehicle technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/515-how-software-is-steering-vehicle-technology) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [What is Software Engineering in the Age of AI?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/640-what-is-software-engineering-in-the-age-of-ai) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated)