Software Development Engineer - New Graduate

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 [](https://shield.ai/). Follow Shield AI on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/shield-ai), [X](https://x.com/shieldaitech), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/shield_ai), and [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@Shield_AI). We are seeking Autonomous Software Engineers for full-time roles starting in 2027! This is a paid, in-person, full-time position for students graduating during the 2026-2027 academic year. We are now reviewing applications for positions starting after graduation in 2027. ## What you'll do - Design, implement, test, and ship C++ and/or Python features, tools, and tests alongside experienced engineers. - Write embedded firmware in C/C++ for real-time software that controls our advanced UAV while in flight. - Develop tests, reporters, and tooling in Python to validate software behavior and performance. - Develop and evaluate autonomy software across areas such as mission behavior, planning, multi-agent coordination, decision-making, platform integration, or perception (object detection, tracking, sensor fusion, localization, situational awareness, or AI/ML-enabled workflows). - Build unit and integration tests, run and analyze simulation or bench results, and investigate failures using logs, telemetry, traces, and debugging tools. - Support software integration across autonomy capabilities, platform/vehicle interfaces, sensors, perception products, mission compute, and operator or command-and-control (C2) systems, including simulation, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, and bench testing. - Work with real and simulated data from cameras, EO/IR sensors, IMUs, GPS, radars, or other mission payloads. - Work cross-functionally with electrical and mechanical engineers to help determine and validate software requirements. - Write documentation for setup steps, interface assumptions, configuration, test procedures, and findings to make workflows repeatable. - Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and test debriefs, and take on more ownership of features and fixes over time. ### Required Qualifications - Currently pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field, graduating between December 2026 and August 2027. - Proficiency in C++ and/or Python. - Solid foundation in data structures, algorithms, and software fundamentals. - Ability to own well-scoped tasks with limited guidance and communicate progress clearly. - Must be able to work in-person full-time. ### Preferred Qualifications - Hands-on project experience (competition team, research lab, capstone, or personal projects) involving robotics, controls, planning, computer vision, or machine learning. - Prior internship or co-op experience writing software. - Familiarity with simulation tools, ROS/ROS2, or hardware-in-the-loop/software-in-the-loop testing. - Experience with sensor data (cameras, EO/IR, IMU, GPS, radar) or multimodal AI/ML data (vision-language or vision-language-action models). - Experience writing unit/integration tests and debugging using logs or telemetry. - Comfortable working in a Linux environment and using version control (e.g., Git). - Exposure to embedded systems, real-time software, or safety-critical software practices.