Software Simulation Lead (R3249)

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Boston, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn,X, YouTubeand Instagram.     

The Aircraft Software Test & Automation team is an ambitious, driven group of engineers focused on testing complex aircraft software integrated onto vehicles and various hardware systems. The team is a cross-discipline group of test engineers, software developers, integration experts, and more; working closely with our Embedded, GNC (Guidance, Navigation & Controls), and System Test teams, the Software Test & Automation team is chartered to provide (1) rigorous, but fast testing and (2) an advanced, robust development & test infrastructure for all aircraft software. Shield AI is building groundbreaking autonomous aircraft technologies, this team provides the complex testing & innovative capabilities required to get us there.

As a Software Simulation Lead, you will be responsible for improving and scaling our simulation capabilities for the V-BAT and future aircraft. You will design, resource, manage, build and integrate tooling across our various engineering teams (e.g. Aerodynamics, GNC, Propulsion, etc.) to enable efficient and scalable simulation workflows. Your simulation solutions will be a key development tool for other engineers and also a critical gate in our release process.

• Design, develop, and optimize high-performance simulation frameworks. 
• Align needs and priorities across many teams and disciplines
• Manager and lead a small team of specialized simulation engineer in multiple locations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, autonomy engineers, and aerodynamics engineers, to ensure the simulation accurately reflects real-world conditions. 
• Integrate basic physics principles into simulations to enhance realism and accuracy. 
• Conduct testing and validation of simulation frameworks to ensure performance and reliability. 
• Stay updated with the latest advancements in simulation technologies and apply them to our systems.

• BS in Computer Science or related engineering field with 8+ years of professional experience.
• 2+ years of experience leading engineering teams or projects.
• Passion for simulation and testing with the goal of ensuring safety and reliability at scale.
• Experience building simulation within DevOps environments in addition to experince with DevOps tools and infrastructure.
• Interest in aerospace and autonomous vehicles. 
• Strong foundation in modern C++, including a deep understanding of memory management, performance optimization, and debugging. 
• Experience with robotics concepts, including node-based architectures such as ROS or similar middleware frameworks. 
• Foundational knowledge of statistics and its application in software development, testing, and data analysis. 
• Experience building and compiling code in complex software environments, including debugging build errors and managing dependencies. 
• Solid understanding of mathematics (especially linear algebra) and foundational physics, with the ability to interpret technical papers and algorithms effectively. 
• Eagerness to learn, adapt, and grow in a collaborative team environment, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and communication.

• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and/or containerised application development
• Familiarity with rigid body dynamics (e.g. Euler’s equations, quaternions), aerodynamics, propulsion systems, etc. 
• Experience with Python 3 and data science frameworks (e.g. NumPy, Pandas, Dagster) 
• Experience with robotics concepts, including node-based architectures such as ROS or similar middleware frameworks.

#LI-SM1

Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.