Senior Systems Engineer – Next‑Gen UAS

About the role

As a Senior Systems Engineer on Shield AI’s next‑generation UAS program, you will design, develop, and integrate autonomous aircraft systems for national defense. You will lead system architecture execution, ensuring seamless integration of avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensor payloads, and mission‑critical systems.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and refine system architecture for the next‑gen UAS, integrating avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensors, and mission systems.
• Define and document system‑level behavior, modes, states, transitions, and fault responses, supporting safety analyses (FHA, FMEA, FTA).
• Establish top‑level requirements, decompose into subsystems, and maintain traceability throughout the development lifecycle.
• Collaborate with autonomy and software teams to integrate AI‑driven flight control and decision‑making capabilities.
• Utilize MBSE tools (SysML, DOORS, CAMEO) to create digital models, conduct trade studies, and optimize performance.
• Conduct risk assessments, trade studies, and ensure compliance with DoD acquisition processes, MIL‑STDs, and FAA airworthiness standards.

Required profile

• 5+ years of systems engineering experience in aerospace, defense, or autonomous aircraft.
• Proven ability to define system behavior logic, operational modes, and lead cross‑functional teams.
• Experience with Group 4 or Group 5 UAS, military aircraft, or autonomous airborne platforms.
• Background in flight testing, system integration, and performance validation.
• Knowledge of DoD acquisition, MIL‑STDs, FAA certification, and airborne system safety standards.

Required skills

• Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) using SysML, DOORS, CAMEO.
• System architecture and avionics integration.
• AI‑driven autonomy integration for unmanned aircraft.
• Flight testing and system integration expertise.
• Understanding of MIL‑STDs, FAA airworthiness, and DoD acquisition processes.