Senior Staff Engineer – Mission Architect

About the role

Shield AI is seeking a senior engineer to own mission representation across multiple programs, applying systems engineering, modeling, simulation, and operational analysis to evaluate how autonomous systems achieve mission effects.

Key responsibilities

• Develop mission analyses and assess autonomous capabilities in representative military scenarios.
• Use systems engineering tools (Cameo, SysML 2.0) and modeling tools (AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, Python) to create mission models, architectures, and traceability artifacts.
• Produce mission threads, CONOPS, and architecture documents for new AI‑driven capabilities.
• Translate mission needs into system requirements, design decisions, and capability improvements with engineering teams.
• Conduct trade studies and sensitivity analyses to identify mission drivers, gaps, and performance thresholds.
• Collaborate with DoD stakeholders and warfighters to define measures of effectiveness and align system capabilities.
• Prepare technical reports and present findings to senior leadership and government agencies.
• Leverage cloud/HPC workflows, containerization, version control, CI/CD, and automated testing to run mission models efficiently.

Required profile

• 5+ years in mission engineering, systems engineering, operational analysis, or modeling & simulation.
• Experience with mission‑thread, force‑on‑force, capability‑gap analysis, or CONOPS development.
• Proficiency with SysML and tools such as AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, or Python for aerospace/defense.
• Track record working with DoD stakeholders to translate operational objectives into system requirements.
• Strong communication and briefing skills for senior and military audiences.
• Active Secret or Top‑Secret clearance (or ability to obtain).

Required skills

• SysML (including SysML 2.0) and Cameo.
• AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, Python.
• Cloud computing and HPC workflow orchestration.
• Containerization, version control, CI/CD, automated testing.