Job Title:

GNC Engineer

Company:

Shield AI

Type of Position:

DIRECT HIRE

Candidate Requirements:

This role is ONLY open to US Citizens. Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders) and any other work authorizations are NOT permitted here as this role requires eligibility to obtain a secret clearance (a secret clearance is only open to US Citizens). To be clear, a clearance isn’t required to start (but all candidates must be eligible to obtain one eventually). Due to the nature of this role (working for a defense contractor tied to the federal government) – candidates may need to pass a drug screen (which would include cannabis). There would be no exceptions to this (eg: a medical card).

Job Location:

This will be an on-site role based in Frisco, TX. We do offer a competitive relocation package for non-local candidates.

Compensation:

Compensation is commensurate with experience, education, and skill level. We are generally targeting $125K/yr to $150K/yr, but there will be flexibility.

Benefits:

• Available and very competitive (health insurance, dental, vision, 401k, PTO, etc).
• This role includes a performance bonus and company equity, allowing you to share in Shield AI’s growth and success.

About Shield AI:

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company whose mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. In pursuit of this mission, Shield AI is building the world’s best AI pilot. Its AI pilot, Hivemind, has flown a fighter jet (F-16), a vertical takeoff and landing drone (V-BAT), and a quadcopter (Nova). The company has offices throughout the USA (and around the world). Shield AI’s products and people are currently in the field actively supporting operations with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. allies.

Role Summary:

The GNC team focuses on researching and developing state-of-the-art algorithms that drive high-performance flight for the VBAT and XBAT, both vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. As a GNC Engineer on this team, you’ll design, implement, and optimize guidance, navigation, and control algorithms that enable autonomous flight in complex environments. You’ll work on tasks such as system modeling, control law development, sensor fusion, and flight simulation, while supporting real-world flight testing to validate performance. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with hardware, software, and autonomy teams in an agile, mission-driven, and values-focused environment grounded in first principles – pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in autonomous aviation.

What You’ll Do:

• Design, develop, and optimize flight control systems for a family of advanced unmanned VTOL vehicles
• Execute simulations and real-world tests of VTOL vehicles
• Extract linear aircraft state space models from nonlinear models
• Update system models leveraging system identification techniques, both offline and online
• Root-cause, triage, and resolve flight control system defects
• Improve test infrastructure, including improvements to unit test coverage, simulation fidelity, analysis tools, etc.
• Support roadmapping and planning for next-generation flight control systems
• Work with hardware teams to design and select servos, propulsion systems, inertial navigation systems, air data units, vision-based navigation systems, etc.

Required Qualifications:

• BS or higher in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Mechanical, Electrical, or Software Engineering with a focus on Control Systems
• Experience tuning and optimizing control systems in simulation and real-world for stability and performance
• Experience with C++ in a production environment
• Experience with data analysis tools
• Passion for solving complex problems in a fast-moving environment
• Demonstrated record of working hard, strong communication skills, being a trustworthy teammate, and being kind to others

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two years or more of professional experience in the area of robotics, vehicle dynamics modeling, aircraft flight controls, or simulation
• Experience with C++ 17 or newer
• Familiarity with git, bash, Python
• Familiarity with best practices for software engineering, such as test-driven development, continuous integration & delivery, containerization, etc.

Work Environment / Other Info:

• You’ll split your time between office-based engineering work and hands-on efforts with our aircraft. This means moving between an office environment to working directly with hardware on-site.
• Offer may be contingent upon a drug screen and background check (drug screen would include cannabis).
• 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.

How to Apply for This Job:

To apply for this position, please follow these steps: Apply for this job with your current resume. We’ll get back to you the same day with some feedback on your application. Next you’ll be invited to an online screening conversation so we can go over the job requirements together and you can ask questions. After this stage we’ll give you more feedback on your application and select the candidates to move forward in the process. Typically steps 1 to 4 takes less than 24 hours.