Senior Staff Engineer, Avionics Systems (R6238)

What you'll do:

Required qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree
• Demonstrated experience defining system behavior logic, operational modes, and redundancy and fault management
• Deep expertise in avionics architecture and integration, including flight computers, navigation systems, datalinks, and avionics data buses
• Proficiency in MBSE, DOORS, SysML, Cameo, or similar system modeling tools for complex systems design and analysis
• Experience with Group 4 or Group 5 UAS, military aircraft, or autonomous airborne platforms
• Strong background in avionics integration, hardware/software integration labs, flight testing, and performance validation
• Knowledge of DoD acquisition processes, airworthiness (MIL-HDBK-516C), and avionics standards (e.g., MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-704, MIL-STD-810, DO-178C, DO-254)
• Experience on a developmental program from clean sheet to first flight
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, agile environment with shifting priorities
• Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with alternative navigation, assured PNT, or GPS-denied navigation solutions
• Expertise in sensor integration for airborne platforms
• Familiarity with modular open system architectures (MOSA), Government Reference Architectures (GRA), or open standards such as SOSA and FACE
• Experience developing or integrating AI-driven autonomy for unmanned aircraft
• Prior experience working with defense primes, DoD stakeholders, or government R&D programs
• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance
• Additional information
• 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.

Additional information

Responsibilities

• System Architecture & Design: Develop and refine the avionics architecture for the next gen UAS, covering flight and mission computers, data networks, navigation, communications, sensor payloads, and their interfaces with autonomy and propulsion.
• System Behavior & Safety: Define and document system-level behavior, including modes, states, transitions, redundancy management, and fault detection, isolation, and recovery. Support safety analyses (FHA, FMEA, FTA) by defining behavior under fault conditions.
• Requirements & Interface Management: Establish top-level requirements, break them down into avionics subsystem requirements, and own the interface control documents (ICDs), keeping them traceable across the development lifecycle.
• Navigation & Communications: Define navigation architectures, including GPS/INS and alternative navigation for GPS-denied operations. Also define datalink and communications architectures that keep command, control, and mission data reliable in contested environments.
• Avionics Integration: Lead integration of avionics hardware and data buses (e.g., Ethernet, MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, CAN), thermal, EMI/EMC, and environmental considerations.
• Autonomy Integration: Work with the autonomy and software teams to make sure the avionics architecture provides the compute, sensor data, and determinism that flight control and mission execution need.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Work with DoD stakeholders, industry partners, and avionics suppliers to align system capabilities with operational requirements.