Senior Software Engineer, Autonomy Flight Test and Demonstration (R3306)

As a Senior Software Engineer, Autonomy Flight Test and Demonstration at Shield AI, you will be responsible for supporting live customer demonstrations by operating our Hivemind software on UAVs. This includes developing, testing, and integrating software components, conducting flight tests to log and debug performance, and directly collaborating with customers to tailor UAV behavior and resolve technical issues.

To qualify for the Senior Software Engineer, Autonomy Flight Test and Demonstration role at Shield AI, candidates should possess a B.S. in Computer Science, AI, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or a similar field, along with 5+ years of experience in software development, particularly in C++ and Python. Experience with UAV flight software and debugging in real-time environments is also essential.

In the role of Senior Software Engineer at Shield AI, you will be involved in projects that include flight testing of UAV autonomy, developing automation tools for telemetry collection, and collaborating cross-functionally to enhance mission performance. You'll also participate in live demonstrations and refine our software based on customer feedback.

Yes, the Senior Software Engineer, Autonomy Flight Test and Demonstration position at Shield AI requires some travel, estimated at around 30%. This travel will primarily be for field operations, customer engagements, and testing scenarios that are crucial to the role.

Preferred technical skills for the Senior Software Engineer role at Shield AI include experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) or software-in-the-loop (SIL) simulation, knowledge of MAVLink and other communication protocols, and familiarity with autonomous systems in DoD programs or military UAV operations.

In answering this question, discuss specific UAV platforms you have worked with, the software you developed or integrated, and any challenges you faced. Highlight your troubleshooting skills and how you improved the flight performance using your software solutions.

Provide a clear example of a real-time system you worked on, detailing the steps you took to identify the problem, the tools you used for debugging, and how you resolved the issue. Emphasize your methodical approach and teamwork if applicable.

Describe your approach to prioritization, such as using tools or methodologies (like Agile or Kanban) and how you assess the urgency and importance of tasks. Give a specific example of when you successfully managed competing deadlines in a high-pressure environment.

Discuss your involvement in documenting flight test results, how you structured your documentation, and the importance of this information in improving autonomy software. Highlight any tools or processes you employed to ensure clarity and accessibility.

Share your strategies for engaging customers during technical demonstrations, including how you tailor your communication to the audience, troubleshoot on-the-spot issues, and gather actionable feedback after a demonstration.

Illustrate your approach to working with cross-functional teams by sharing experiences where collaboration led to success. Explain how you ensured clear communication and aligned goals across different departments to achieve project outcomes.

Discuss the software testing methodologies you are familiar with, such as unit testing, integration testing, and system testing. Explain how you implement these methodologies to ensure robustness and reliability in your work.

Clearly outline any projects where you developed or tested autonomous features in drones. Discuss the scope of the project, your contributions, and the outcomes. Mention any challenges faced and how you overcame them, focusing on innovative thinking.

Discuss specific tools you prefer for telemetry data analysis, how you use them effectively to extract valuable insights, and any improvements you've achieved in UAV operations based on your analysis.

Confirm your familiarity with communication protocols like MAVLink, RTPS, or DDS, and describe any instances where you utilized these protocols in your projects. Emphasize their importance in ensuring seamless communication in autonomous systems.