Staff Engineer, C++ Modeling & Simulation Engineer (R3452)

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Its products include Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge—as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems (wide-area motion imaging software). With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide.  For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram.    
This position is perfect for a seasoned C++ engineer with expertise in modeling and simulation, systems, and systems integration. As a key leader, you will tackle the most challenging and complex projects with minimal oversight, driving impactful results in collaboration with a dynamic and skilled team. This is an opportunity to shape innovative solutions, integrating simulations and third-party systems, and advancing cutting-edge technologies. 

What You'll Do:

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of high-performance C++ software for complex systems
• Architect robust, scalable simulation solutions for systems of systems and real-time processing 
• Drive the integration of third-party software and hardware systems into comprehensive architectures
• Set technical standards and mentor other engineers to promote excellence and bestpractices
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure project alignment and successful delivery
• Implement modern agile software development practices, including continuous integration and test-driven development 
• Tackle complex debugging and optimization challenges to enhance system performance
• Explore and adopt new technologies to stay at the forefront of the field
• Drive task decomposition for teams and individuals

Required Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 5 years and a Master’s degree; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience
• Advanced professional experience in software engineering and systems integration
• Familiarity with design patterns and system-level engineering principles
• Extensive experience in C++ using modern C++ (C++17/20) while possessing a solid understanding of older standards (C++98/03) for adapting to legacy code and systems seamlessly
• Experience in Python
• Experience with AFSIM or NGTS 
• Programming experience in a Linux environment (Windows experience is a bonus)
• Expertise with Docker or other containerization mechanisms
• Demonstrated success leading projects with 10+ contributors
• Exceptional problem-solving skills, with a fast, efficient, and effective approach
• Deep understanding of design patterns and system architecture principles
• Experience in a collaborative development environment, focused on continuous integration/delivery and test-driven development
• Passion for learning and implementing new technologies
• Demonstrated experience being a trustworthy teammate 
• Demonstrated kindness to teammates 
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• MS or greater in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience
• Real-time and distributed simulation experience
• Proficiency in Python
• Advanced knowledge of third-party system integration (software and hardware)
• Experience with DOD simulations such as AFSIM and NGTS, especially with C++ plugin development 
• Experience with web-service technologies like gRPC, REST APIs, message queues (ActiveMQ, ZeroMQ), etc. 
• Familiarity with C++ tooling like CMake and Conan
• Experience with UCI and OMS Standards
• Active SECRET clearance

What We Value

• Strong leadership and mentorship capabilities
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills
• Dedication to delivering high-quality, innovative solutions
• A collaborative and supportive team-oriented mindset

This role is for individuals ready to lead with impact, taking ownership of their work and inspiring their teams to deliver outstanding results in an agile and forward-thinking environment. 

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Full-time regular employee offer package: Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer