Manager, Software - Perception (R3770)

About the role

Shield AI, a venture-backed defense-tech company, is looking for a Manager, Software - Perception to lead technical teams and support direct projects integrating perception solutions for defense platforms. The role suits someone who builds advanced perception systems enabling autonomous aircraft to operate in complex and contested environments, using real-time object detection, sensor fusion and state estimation from EO/IR cameras, radars and IMUs.

Key responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams across autonomy, integration and testing, balancing hands-on technical oversight with stakeholder communication.
• Design and implement algorithms for object detection, classification and multi-target tracking across sensor modalities.
• Integrate data from vision systems, radars and other sensors using probabilistic and deterministic fusion techniques.
• Develop algorithms for localization and pose estimation using IMU, GPS and vision inputs.
• Analyze sensor ICDs and technical specifications to ensure correct data handling and synchronization.
• Tune perception pipelines for performance, robustness and real-time efficiency in simulation and real-world settings.
• Work with autonomy, systems and integration teams to connect perception outputs with planning, behaviors and decision-making modules.
• Validate algorithms through synthetic data, simulation and field testing, and integrate with onboard compute platforms.
• Contribute to advancing real-time perception in GPS-denied or contested environments.
• Travel about 10-15% of the year to office locations, customer sites and flight integration events.

Required profile

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Typically 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 5 years with a Master's, or 4 years with a PhD.
• 5+ years of experience in Unmanned Systems programs in the DoD or applied R&D.
• 2+ years of people leadership experience.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

Required skills

• Background in Kalman filters, multi-target tracking or deep learning-based detection models.
• Familiarity with sensor fusion using probabilistic or rule-based approaches, and with SLAM, visual-inertial odometry or sensor-fused localization.
• Ability to read Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and hardware integration specs.
• Proficiency with version control, debugging and test-driven development.
• Preferred: PyTorch or TensorFlow, deployment on SWaP-constrained platforms, and flight-test validation experience.