Senior Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration (R5423)
Shield AI · On-site
MeritLog read this listing from Shield AI's Lever job board and last checked it on September 10, 2026.
Source: the employer's Lever job board. Open the original listing for current details.
Job details
- Work model
- On-site
- Salary
- $195,840 - $293,760
- Location
- San Mateo, California
- Occupation
- Software Developers(O*NET 15-1252.00)
Hiring context
How this role compares at Shield AI
Shield AI has 484 live roles in MeritLog’s catalog across 12 job families, and 378 of them are in engineering. 376 of those listings publish a pay range, a disclosure rate of 78%.
This role's posted range of $195,840 - $293,760 sits above 80% of the 356 other Shield AI roles quoted over the same currency and period.
Shield AI concentrates this hiring in:
Counted across the job boards MeritLog tracks, at the time this page was served. Pay comparisons use only listings that publish a complete range in the same currency and period.
Job description
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. This position is ideal for an individual who thrives on solving complex integration challenges that span hardware, software, and systems engineering. A successful candidate will be skilled at deploying autonomy solutions onto unmanned platforms, preparing systems for flight, and troubleshooting mission-critical issues in both lab and field environments. The role is highly dynamic, requiring hands-on experience, strong systems thinking, and the ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, real-world test conditions. Shield AI is committed to developing cutting-edge autonomy for unmanned aircraft operating across all Department of Defense (DoD) domains, including air, sea, and land. Our Flight Integration Engineers are essential to bridging the gap between R&D and deployment, ensuring that autonomous systems function reliably and effectively when and where they are needed most.