Lead the Guidance and Control team responsible for control and autonomy algorithms in the VBAT codebase. Oversee full lifecycle development: algorithm design, software implementation, unit/component tests, flight software qualification, and flight test support. Coordinate and integrate work with Hivemind, State Estimation, Simulation, Aerodynamics, and Embedded Software teams. Hire, mentor, and grow team members, create career plans, identify and remediate capability gaps, and negotiate cross-functional responsibilities.
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
As manager of the Guidance and Control team, you will be responsible for leading and maintaining all of control and autonomy algorithms within the VBAT code base. Team responsibilities are full lifecycle development to include algorithm development, software design and coding, unit tests, component tests, flight software qualification and flight test support. During this lifecycle, the Guidance and Control team must negotiate workshare and integrate solutions tightly with the Hivemind team, the State Estimation team, the Simulation Development team, the Aerodynamics team and the Embedded Software team.
Required qualifications:
- Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 7 years with a Master’s degree; or 5 years with a PhD.
- Proven track record of successfully shipping products, showcasing the ability to navigate through development cycles, overcome obstacles, and deliver high-quality solutions to meet project deadlines and exceed expectations in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience growing team members a creating / maintaining a high-performance team
- Tasking with specific intent on Individual career growth plans and execution
- Mentoring team members on career growth
- Ability to identify weaknesses on the team and either train or hire to fill any capability gaps
- Ability to effectively negotiate work responsibility and alignment between various teams in a cross functional development environment.
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with a focus on delivering user-centric software solutions.
- Experience working with control systems, specifically unmanned aerial systems and/or robotics to include
- Outer loop path planning / trajectory synthesis
- Integrating software in a hierarchical environment
Preferred qualifications:
- Familiarity with continuous integration / delivery and test-driven development
- Software Autonomy stack architecture and development
- Hierarchical design to decouple code responsibility to create a robust, maintainable code base
- Outer loop guidance algorithms for trajectory optimization
- Controls knowledge with experience in
- Linear system analysis to include Gain/Phase margin analysis
- Pole placement / LQR algorithms
- Filter development and verification / validation
- Discrete filters
- Kalman filters
- C++ and Python coding experience
#LI-SM1
#LE
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
###
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
Similar Jobs at Shield AI
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Lead and scale multidisciplinary engineering for the Group 3 V-BAT UAS: define technical strategy and architecture, drive execution across flight software, autonomy, avionics, propulsion and payloads, enforce engineering governance and compliance, hire and mentor leaders, and engage executives, customers, and partners to deliver and sustain deployed aircraft.
Top Skills:
Automated TestingAutonomyAvionicsCi/CdConfiguration ManagementDevOpsFlight Controls (Gnc)Flight SciencesFlight SoftwareGround Control SystemsPayload IntegrationPropulsion
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Lead electrical failure analysis for avionics hardware (PCBA, harnesses, connectors), perform root-cause investigations using structured methodologies, run electrical/mechanical/environmental analyses, collaborate cross-functionally, drive corrective actions, document and present findings, and mentor junior engineers.
Top Skills:
ConnectorsCrimpingCross-SectioningEmbedded SystemsFailure Analysis (Fa)HarnessesInterconnect ReliabilityMicroscopyPcb MaterialsPcbasPower SystemsSolderingViasX-Ray
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Lead design and development of high-performance composite and metallic aircraft structural components from concept through production. Ensure structural integrity, manufacturability, and system integration while collaborating cross-functionally and guiding a team in fast-paced aerospace development environments.
Top Skills:
Bonded JointsCatiaComposite StructuresDfmaFastenersGd&TMetallic StructuresNxSolidworks
What you need to know about the NYC Tech Scene
As the undisputed financial capital of the world, New York City is an epicenter of startup funding activity. The city has a thriving fintech scene and is a major player in verticals ranging from AI to biotech, cybersecurity and digital media. It also has universities like NYU, Columbia and Cornell Tech attracting students and researchers from across the globe, providing the ecosystem with a constant influx of world-class talent. And its East Coast location and three international airports make it a perfect spot for European companies establishing a foothold in the United States.
Key Facts About NYC Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 549,200; 6% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Capgemini, Bloomberg, IBM, Spotify
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, Fintech
- Funding Landscape: $25.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Greycroft, Thrive Capital, Union Square Ventures, FirstMark Capital, Tiger Global Management, Tribeca Venture Partners, Insight Partners, Two Sigma Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: Columbia University, New York University, Fordham University, CUNY, AI Now Institute, Flatiron Institute, C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics, NASA Space Radiation Laboratory
