Staff Engineer – Embedded Firmware for UAVs

About the role

Shield AI’s V‑BAT software team is seeking a Staff Engineer to lead the development of embedded firmware for its unmanned aerial vehicles. You will work closely with hardware, GNC, autonomy and test engineers to deliver reliable, high‑performance code that powers flight‑critical systems.

Key responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain high‑quality C/C++ firmware for V‑BAT aircraft, ensuring safety and performance.
• Port legacy bare‑metal code to a real‑time operating system (RTOS) on custom System‑On‑Module hardware.
• Integrate RTOS, device trees, and drivers for new sensors, avionics, and payloads.
• Create and maintain CI/CD pipelines with automated testing, including hardware‑in‑the‑loop simulations.
• Participate in architecture, design, and code reviews across firmware, autonomy AI, and ground control software.
• Develop test frameworks and prototypes to validate firmware in virtual and physical environments.
• Report status, risks, and milestones to senior leadership and collaborate with production teams on UAV manufacturing.

Required profile

• Proven experience writing production‑grade C/C++ firmware for embedded systems.
• Hands‑on experience with bare‑metal development, Linux kernel or RTOS bring‑up, and device‑tree configuration.
• Demonstrated ability to own features from concept through release in fast‑paced, defense‑oriented projects.
• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering or a related STEM discipline.

Required skills

• C and C++ programming.
• RTOS development and integration.
• Linux kernel development and device‑tree management.
• Multi‑threaded, thread‑safe software design.
• CI/CD pipeline creation and automated testing for embedded platforms.
• Hardware‑in‑the‑loop and simulation‑based verification.