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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Staff Software Engineer - **Company:** Lever, Inc. - **Location:** San Mateo, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $234,240.0 - **Contract:** Temporary contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Data Analysis, Systems Engineering, Code Review, Programming Tools, Issue Tracking Systems, Iterative and Incremental Development, Machine Learning, Motion Planning, Release Management, Robotic Automation Software, Software Engineering, Software Requirements Analysis, Subsystems, Systems Integration, Reinforcement Learning, Multi-Agent Systems, Information Technology, DO-178B, Software Version Control - **Published:** September 1, 2026 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/94a05ffd-7376-4794-8d4b-80f6c56d151d/apply ## About the Role * BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field * Proficient in production-level C++ software development * 7+ years' experience in one or more of the following: software sub-system scheduling and integration, behavior planning, task and resource allocation, motion planning, optimization, or flight controls * Experience with collaborative software development tools for version control, issue tracking, code reviews, and release management * Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, set technical direction, and manage full project lifecycles from concept to deployment * Capacity to learn and grow individually, while mentoring junior team members effectively, building team cohesion and capacity * Desire to work in a highly collaborative, fast paced, enthusiastic, and mission-centric environment * Capacity to act as the technical owner for an entire software system, including stakeholder engagement, requirements definition, roadmap management, team co-ordination, design, implementation, sustainment, and evolution * Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance, * Experience across a breadth of technology readiness levels (TRLs) and demonstration of bridging concepts from research-grade to operationally ready * Experience with mission systems integration, and ideally, hands-on experience supporting integration events and/or flight demonstrations * Experience across a multitude of application areas, including but not limited to: * Collaborative mission planning, behavior planning, synchronized teaming * Automated red force vs blue force tactics * Motion planning across a variety of vehicle classes, kinematic constraints, and team compositions * Weapons target assignment, Sensor target pairing, sensor-centric control laws * Collision avoidance, geofencing, and safety-monitoring * Experience in more than one operational effect (e.g., strike, air combat, surveillance, reconnaissance, etc.) and more than one associated domain (e.g., air, space, maritime, ground, etc.) * Experience with FOSS software that is commonly used in robotic systems (e.g., ROS, OMPL, optimization solvers, etc.) * Experience with simulation tools and environments (e.g., AFSIM, NGTS) for testing and validation * Familiarity with practical aspects of navigation and communications systems * Experience across the product delivery lifecycle, from emerging opportunity through system acceptance, deployment, and sustainment * Familiarity with systems engineering methodologies * Familiarity with high-assurance software development processes (e.g., DO-178C or equivalent MIL-STD's) ## Description * Tactical Autonomy Design - Design tactical autonomy algorithms to enable unmanned aircraft to perform complex missions across air, land, and sea domains with minimal human supervision. * High-Performance Software Development - Develop high-performance software modules that incorporate planning, decision-making, and behavior execution strategies for dynamic and adversarial environments. * Behavior Architecture Implementation - Implement and test behavior architectures that enable multi-agent coordination, target engagement, reconnaissance, and survivability in contested scenarios. * Hybrid Autonomy Integration - Work at the intersection of classical autonomy and machine learning, blending rule-based systems with learning-based methods such as reinforcement learning to achieve robust, adaptive behavior. * Cross-Functional Collaboration - Collaborate with cross-functional teams including perception, planning, simulation, hardware, and flight test to ensure seamless integration of autonomy solutions on real-world platforms. * Deployment & Field Testing - Deploy autonomy capabilities to real platforms and participate in field tests and flight demos, validating performance in operationally relevant conditions. * Mission Data Analysis - Analyze mission logs and performance data to diagnose failures, optimize behavior models, and inform iterative development. * R&D and Roadmapping - Contribute to the autonomy roadmap by researching and prototyping new algorithms, identifying tactical capability gaps, and proposing novel solutions that advance Shield AI's mission. * Program Support & Adaptation - Support defense-focused programs and customer needs by adapting autonomy solutions to evolving mission sets, compliance requirements, and operational feedback. * Travel Requirement - Members of this team typically travel around 10-15% of the year (to different office locations, customer sites, and flight integration events). ## Related Videos - [Robots are coming into the wild! 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