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# Staff Safety-Critical Software Engineer (R5788)

- **Company:** Shield AI
- **Location:** San Diego, CA, United States
- **Salary:** $200,000.0 - $300,000.0
- **Contract:** Temporary contract
- **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Audit Trail, C++ (Programming Language), Static Program Analysis, Software Documentation, Software Quality, Continuous Integration, Dynamic Program Analysis, Middleware, Network Interface Controllers, R (Programming Language), JavaServer Faces, MISRA C (C Programming Language), Software Engineering, Software Systems, Software Organization, Test-Driven Development (TDD), Git, Linux Development, DO-178B, Software Coding
- **Published:** October 31, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/staff-safety-critical-software-engineer-r5788-san-diego-ca--2f64c55e-73a9-417a-ad37-6aadeb369744

## About the Role

Software Engineering, R Programming Language, YouTube, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Simulation, LinkedIn, Technical Support, Technical Operations, International Operations, Software Engineering, * Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 9 years with a Master's degree; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.

 * Demonstrated excellence in designing and developing C++ based safety-critical software systems with Real-Time guarantees.
 * Experience working as a mentor to other engineers in a role driving software best practices to enhance software quality.
 * Experience integrating software on real-world physical systems and driving up performance and reliability.
 * Deep expertise in C++ software architecture design patterns and their practical implementation.
 * Strong knowledge of software assurance certifications such as DO-178C and MIL-HDBK-516.
 * Strong Git and Linux development skills, along with modern software development practices (e.g., CI/CD, test-driven development).
 * A track record of technical leadership, with the ability to set and maintain high standards, guide teams through complex technical challenges, and collaborate effectively.

Preferred qualifications:

 * Experience developing against strict C++ coding standards (e.g., MISRA C++, JSF AV C++)
 * Hands-on experience with airworthiness certifications such as MIL-HDBK-516, DO-178C.
 * Experience taking a solution through a certification process and achieving a certification.

## Description

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to help drive the design, development, and integration of a safety critical Run-Time Assurance (RTA) product. The Hivemind Foundations team is responsible for a suite of core products and capabilities that brings resilient autonomy and intelligence to aircraft and other platforms operating in complex environments. The RTA product that the Foundations team develops is a real-time safety capability that helps keep autonomy safe, predictable, and effective at the edge.

As a member of the Foundations team, you will be responsible for driving C++ software development against rigorous coding standards and requirements, integration of reusable safety capabilities into production systems, defining clean interfaces and tests, and turn safety-critical designs into reliable software that can fly, including support for X-BAT, Shield AI's flagship Group 5 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) UAV.

What you'll do:

 * Drive architecture, development, integration and testing of an extensible, configurable Run-Time Assurance (RTA) module that ensures safe operation of autonomous systems in diverse, adversarial conditions.
 * Work closely with other engineers in Foundations to design and integrate with the low-assurance mission-autonomy software and high-assurance middleware.
 * Specialize, integrate and test the RTA capability on a diverse set of platforms in various conditions to ensure robust fail-safe behavior.
 * Drive principled software development practices across Foundations including but not limited to code analysis, audit trail, principled review processes.
 * Collaborate with the team to generate artifacts that enable certifiability of Foundations software, including but not limited to static & dynamic analysis reports, software documentation, architecture decision records (ADRs), interface control diagrams (ICDs), system models.
 * Mentor and guide Foundations developers on practices of safe software development to enhance software quality and assurance.