Senior Staff Engineer – Autonomy Capabilities (Space)

About the role

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Staff Engineer to lead autonomy capabilities for its space portfolio, including satellites and missile‑defense applications. You will design and integrate advanced optimization, tasking, scheduling, and motion‑planning algorithms that will be deployed on real‑world space platforms.

Key responsibilities

• Develop large‑scale multi‑objective optimization and distributed decision‑making for coordinated satellite missions.
• Design weapons target assignment and motion‑planning solutions for fleets of space vehicles and interceptors.
• Advance low‑SWaP optimal control, tactical behavior management, and information‑aware planning.
• Produce high‑performance, well‑tested software modules ready for mid‑to‑high TRL insertion.
• Collaborate with perception, planning, simulation, hardware, and flight‑test teams to integrate autonomy solutions.
• Support deployment, test, and analysis of autonomy capabilities on actual space vehicles.

Required profile

• BS/MS (or PhD) in Computer Science, EE, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience (or equivalent with advanced degree).
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.
• Strong problem‑solving, communication, and teamwork abilities.

Required skills

• Proficiency in C++ and Python.
• Experience with real‑time operating systems (RTOS).
• Robotics technologies: motion planning, behavior modeling, decision‑making.
• Unmanned system technologies, preferably in the space domain.
• Simulation tools such as AFSIM or NGTS.
• Multi‑objective optimization and low‑SWaP optimal control.