Shield AI · 2 months ago
Staff Engineer, Simulation (R3990) (TX/SD/Bos)
San Diego Metro Area
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$158K/yr - $215K/yr
8+ years expShield AI is focused on turning frontier autonomy into mission-ready aircraft, and they are seeking a Staff Simulation Engineer to enhance their next-generation aircraft program. In this role, you will design, build, and scale C++-based simulation tools to validate the aircraft software stack before flight, collaborating across various engineering disciplines to ensure accurate simulation performance.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Autonomous VehiclesDronesMachine LearningNational Security
Responsibilities
Build and scale simulation frameworks for integrated testing of autonomy, GNC, and embedded systems in C++
Design deterministic, high-performance simulation tools capable of faster-than-real-time execution for development, testing, and release
Integrate core physics, dynamics, and system models (aerodynamics, propulsion, controls) into a unified simulation environment
Collaborate across autonomy, embedded, GNC, and test engineering to ensure the simulation mirrors real aircraft behavior and mission scenarios
Develop infrastructure for CI integration, parallel simulation execution, and automated regression testing
Profile, optimize, and validate C++ codebases for performance, determinism, and fidelity
Contribute to architecture decisions that define the next generation of aircraft simulation tools within Shield AI
Mentor engineers and guide best practices in C++, simulation architecture, and performance engineering
Qualification
Required
BS or MS in Computer Science, Aerospace, Robotics, or related field
8+ years of experience in software development, with emphasis on modern C++ (C++17 or later) and performance optimization
Proven experience developing or integrating simulation systems for robotics, aerospace, or autonomous systems
Strong grasp of real-time and deterministic software design, including multi-threading, synchronization, and memory management
Understanding of rigid-body dynamics, kinematics, and basic flight mechanics
Familiarity with DevOps-integrated simulation workflows, including CI/CD and containerized environments
Ability to debug complex build and runtime environments (CMake, dependency management, logging, profiling tools)
Strong collaboration and communication skills across software, hardware, and systems disciplines
Preferred
Experience with distributed or cloud-based simulation (e.g., cluster orchestration, Kubernetes)
Working knowledge of Python for data analysis, test automation, or simulation orchestration
Familiarity with sensor and actuator modeling, and integrating avionics or autonomy software within simulation
Company
Shield AI
Shield AI is a deep-tech company that focuses on developing AI-powered systems to enhance the safety of service members and civilians.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Shield AI has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (3)
2024 (3)
2021 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1.31BKey Investors
Hercules CapitalUS Innovative Technology FundSnowpoint Ventures
2025-03-06Series F· $240M
2023-12-29Debt Financing· $200M
2023-10-31Series F· $300M
Leadership Team
Gary Steele
Chief Executive Officer
Brandon Tseng
Co-Founder
Recent News
Company data provided by crunchbase