Senior Engineer, HMS Simulation Framework

About the role

Shield AI is a defense-tech company developing autonomy software, aircraft and simulation technologies. As a Senior Engineer on the Simulation Framework Team, you will write C++ and Python code, design adapters and build custom plugins for modeling and simulation environments and core autonomy software. You partner with integration teams that own program-level software integration, helping them diagnose framework, plugin and interface issues.

The role focuses on migrating HMSSimBlocks capabilities to the emerging Hivemind Simulation Framework (HMSF): building baseline adapters, porting custom modules and keeping functional parity, while supporting programs still using HMSSimBlocks.

Key responsibilities

• Write, compile and maintain baseline adapters, plugins and interfaces in C++ and Python for AFSIM, NGTS, Aechelon, HMSSimBlocks and HMSF.
• Execute the hands-on migration from HMSSimBlocks to HMSF, porting custom simulation features while maintaining support for legacy users.
• Design and maintain a reusable CIGI plugin layer for visual communication with Aechelon image generators.
• Write clear templates and code architectures so other portfolios can plug in custom sensors or models.
• Keep plugins compatible with CSF file loading, DDS communication, GRID interface standards and Hivemind SDK updates.
• Help integration teams debug simulation-autonomy issues by analyzing framework behavior, network data, DDS traffic and API call stacks.
• Write unit tests, automated integration tests and code documentation.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Computer or Systems Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience writing or maintaining plugins, baseline interfaces or modeling frameworks for simulation environments such as AFSIM or NGTS.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an active U.S. SECRET security clearance (U.S. citizenship required).

Required skills

• C++ and Python in a Linux environment.
• Version control (Git), automated testing and disciplined debugging.
• Familiarity with UDP/TCP, DDS middleware, serialization or interface standards such as CIGI.