Leads an autonomy applications engineering team supporting Shield AI’s Hivemind SDK and customer implementations across air, sea, and space platforms. Responsibilities include technical leadership, customer issue escalation, troubleshooting, onboarding, software architecture and coding, pre- and post-sales support, documentation, process improvement, metrics, hiring development, performance management, and cross-functional collaboration. The role focuses on robotics, edge AI, autonomous systems, and defense aviation applications.
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 a Senior Technical Engineering Manager of Autonomy Applications, you'll lead a team of applications engineers which enable edge-AI and autonomy to platforms across sea, air, and space.. You’ll prioritize and resolve complex issues, mentor your team, and collaborate with internal teams to drive product improvements. With your technical expertise and leadership, you'll play a key role in enhancing customer engagement and supporting the growth of our robotics and autonomy solutions.
What you'll do:
- Become an expert in the Hivemind Autonomy Software Development Kit (SDK).
- Maintain a deep understanding of the SDK’s features, updates, and use cases to guide the team and assist customers.
- Serve as a technical and functional team lead for a team of autonomy applications engineers.
- Guide, mentor, and develop a team of applications engineers to provide expert support and troubleshooting for customers.
- Manage, prioritize and delegate customer issues.
- Contribute via code/design/solutions/architecture to internal and customer projects.
- Support BD in pre-sales and post-sales activities as a technical resource.
- Ensure timely and effective technical assistance, troubleshooting, and onboarding support for customers implementing the SDK.
- Oversee and contribute to the creation and continuous improvement of technical resources, such as user guides, FAQs, and knowledge bases.
Act as an escalation point for complex customer issues and provide hands-on support when necessary. - Coordinate closely with product development, sales, and customer success teams to ensure customer feedback informs SDK improvements and new features.
- Act as a liaison between customers and internal teams to advocate for customer needs and communicate product updates.
- Develop and grow your teammates through mentorship and training.
- Set performance goals, conduct regular evaluations, and foster a collaborative team environment.
- Develop and refine support processes to improve team efficiency, customer satisfaction, and response times.
- Track and report on key metrics related to customer engagement, issue resolution, and team performance to stakeholders.
- Autonomous teaming drones.
- Teaming between helicopters and drones.
- Autonomy on Robodogs.
- AI on Fighter Jets… and more that we aren’t allowed to publicly share!
Examples of Projects You will Lead:
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
- 10+ years of experience of industry experience
- 5+ years of experience in a customer facing engineering role
- 5+ years of experience as an engineering manager
- Strong technical background in software engineering
- Strong proficiency in writing modern C++ code
- Intermediate proficiency in writing Python code
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience developing software for mobile robot / autonomy applications
- Experience in the defense aviation or robotics industry
- Experience building and running a 5–7-person enterprise software applications/solutions engineering team
- Ability to travel to USA for up to 3 months at a time for training
Total package details for U.S. based positions:
- Regular employee positions: Salary within range listed above + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
- Temporary employee positions: Hourly within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days
of employment)
- Interns/Military Fellows/Part-time not eligible for bonus, benefits or equity
Total package details for International positions which are roles based outside of the United States (where applicable):
- International premium, hardship differential, cost of living differential, living quarters allowance, foreign service transfer
allowance, equity, international benefits, visa assistance, and relocation assistance.
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.
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.
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