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Manager of Engineering, Autonomy Capabilities (R5412)

Shield AISan Diego, CaliforniaFlight System Integration
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Salary
Not listed
Job type
Full Time Employee
Experience
Senior · 7+ yrs
Posted
16 Sept 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

The Manager of Engineering, Autonomy Capabilities role is based in San Diego, California, and suits an experienced technical leader specializing in robotics and autonomous systems. This position involves guiding a team of engineers to build and deploy decision-making software for unmanned platforms.

Role Overview

The Manager of Engineering, Autonomy Capabilities at Shield AI oversees the development of core software that drives autonomous decisions for single- and multi-agent platforms. Located in San Diego, California, the position centers on leading a multidisciplinary team responsible for motion planning, tactical behaviors, and multi-agent coordination. The position balances direct people management with technical contributions, involving architecture definition, code reviews, and cross-functional collaboration across defense applications.

Key Responsibilities

Manage a team of approximately 5 to 10 autonomy engineers, handling performance, growth, engagement, and career development.
Partner with recruiting to interview candidates, maintain hiring standards, and onboard new team members.
Own technical delivery from initial design to validation and field deployment, translating program objectives into execution plans.
Define system architectures and technical directions for mission autonomy across air, sea, and space domains.
Guide the development of motion planning, track fusion, perception-aware decision-making, and weapons-target assignment.
Maintain hands-on technical involvement by prototyping, reviewing designs, and contributing directly to code.
Ensure software reliability through testing in software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, and live test environments.
Travel approximately 10 to 15 percent of the year to customer sites, flight tests, integration events, and other company offices.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field with at least 7 years of relevant experience, or a master's degree with 5 years, or a PhD with 4 years, or equivalent practical experience.
Prior experience leading and developing engineers in a people manager, team lead, or technical leadership capacity.
Demonstrated history of leading a technical team or major capability through the full lifecycle from design to field delivery.
Background in robotics or autonomous systems, including motion planning, tactical behaviors, controls, or decision-making.
Proficiency in C++ for developing production-quality software in real-time or robotics systems.
Experience with unmanned systems, simulation environments, and integration testing.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. SECRET security clearance.

Nice to Have

Direct people-management experience covering performance reviews, hiring, and employee development.
Background in developing tactical autonomy for defense applications such as collaborative combat aircraft, weapons, or launched effects.
Experience in multi-agent coordination, distributed decision-making, trajectory optimization, or track fusion.
Hands-on integration work on unmanned platforms supporting flight tests and field exercises.
Experience working in disconnected, communications-denied, or air-gapped environments.
Familiarity with defense interoperability standards like UCI or OMS, or authoring interface-control documents.
Direct collaboration experience with DoD or international defense customers.

Skills and Tools

C++
Motion planning and control systems
Trajectory design and optimization
Track fusion and perception-aware decision-making
Multi-agent coordination
Software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing
UCI and OMS standards

Salary and Benefits

Full-time regular employee offer package includes pay within the listed range, bonus, benefits, and equity.

About the Company

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology enterprise focused on protecting service members and civilians through intelligent systems. The company builds autonomy software such as Hivemind, aircraft including the V-BAT and X-BAT, and simulation technologies like Aechelon. With facilities spanning the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, the organization supports operations globally.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply on the official company careers page.

Skills and tech stack

C++HivemindUCIOMS

Questions candidates ask

Where is this job located?

This position is based in San Diego, California, with occasional travel required for integration events and flight tests.

What level of experience is required for this role?

The role requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience with a bachelor's degree, 5 years with a master's degree, or 4 years with a PhD in a relevant technical field.

Is a security clearance required?

Yes, candidates must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. SECRET security clearance.

What programming languages are needed?

Strong proficiency in C++ is required for developing production-quality software for real-time and robotics systems.

How much travel is expected?

Members of this team typically travel approximately 10 to 15 percent of the year.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Shield AI careers page.

Apply on company site