a16z Senior Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration – Emerging Domains (R5398)
Summary
Leads the design and integration of autonomy software for new defense platforms like satellites, maritime vessels, and unmanned helicopters, using C++ and Linux to develop mission-critical systems.
The Autonomous Pilot Integration team for Emerging Domains builds autonomy solutions for new platforms and mission profiles outside Shield AI's established portfolios—including space (satellites, missile defense), maritime (USV and UUV integration), and contested logistics (unmanned helicopters and related autonomous resupply platforms). The team takes on short-term R&D and integration efforts—often standing up the first autonomy on a brand-new platform or mission—with the intent that successful efforts grow into larger, multi-year programs. We combine capabilities from the Autonomy Capabilities team (motion planning, tactics), the Perception team (e.g., ViDAR, ATR), and the HivemindSDK—selectively leveraging existing Shield AI autonomy solutions where they apply—to develop autonomy that runs on these new platforms. Our engineers write new autonomy code—such as mission behaviors, platform-specific control, multi-agent coordination, contingencies, and executive autonomy—and own it end-to-end from software-in-the-loop, to hardware-in-the-loop, to vehicle-in-the-loop, to live test exercise.
In this role, you'll define the technical direction for Emerging Domains, guiding autonomy strategy across multiple new platforms and mission areas while helping transform early-stage R&D efforts into scalable, long-term programs. You'll solve the organization's most complex technical challenges, influence engineering strategy across organizations, and partner with engineering leadership, platform teams, and customer stakeholders to shape the future of Shield AI's next generation of autonomy portfolios.
What You'll Do:
Stand Up New Programs – Define the technical strategy for establishing autonomy on entirely new platforms and mission areas, determining what should be built, reused, or extended from existing Shield AI capabilities.
Navigate Ambiguity & Shifting Priorities – Lead engineering through evolving customer needs, changing priorities, and uncertain technical landscapes while maintaining execution and long-term technical vision.
Technical Strategy & Portfolio Leadership – Define long-term technical direction across Emerging Domains, establishing architecture, integration strategies, and engineering patterns that enable successful transition from R&D to operational programs.
Develop & Field Autonomy – Guide development and deployment of autonomy capabilities across space, maritime, contested logistics, and future emerging platforms while ensuring successful operational delivery.
Platform Team Partnerships – Build deep technical partnerships with platform organizations and influence interface evolution, integration strategy, and long-term platform architecture.
Collaboration Across Teams & Partners – Influence architecture across Autonomy Capabilities, Perception, GCS, platform teams, engineering leadership, customer organizations, and external partners.
Design & Documentation – Lead architecture reviews, engineering standards, ICDs, and technical best practices across multiple organizations.
Pre-deployment Preparation – Guide release strategy, mission validation, and operational readiness across multiple emerging programs.
On-site Test & Mission Support – Provide senior technical leadership during critical demonstrations, operational exercises, and customer events where deep systems expertise is required.
Hardware/Software Debugging – Lead resolution of the organization's most challenging autonomy integration problems spanning software, hardware, embedded systems, and platform interfaces.
Mission Data & Debrief Support – Drive organizational learning from operational testing and shape future technical investments based on mission outcomes.
Continuous Improvement – Drive long-term improvements to engineering processes, developer experience, testing infrastructure, and integration workflows across the Emerging Domains portfolio.
C2 Interoperability & Standards – Define technical strategy for command-and-control interoperability and guide adoption of platform-appropriate open-systems standards across emerging programs.
Grow R&D into Programs – Partner with engineering leadership and customers to evolve successful R&D efforts into scalable, long-term programs while helping shape technical strategy for future portfolios.
Hiring & Developing Technical Talent – Help define the technical hiring bar for senior engineering roles, mentor future technical leaders, and partner with managers to grow organizational capability.
Travel Requirement – Members of this team typically travel around 10–20% of the year to different office locations, customer sites, operator training events, flight tests, and integration exercises.
Required Qualifications:
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BS/MS in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent practical experience. Typically requires 10+ years of relevant experience.
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Expert-level C++ and Linux systems development experience.
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Demonstrated experience defining technical strategy across multiple programs or engineering organizations.
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Proven track record solving highly complex systems integration challenges in ambiguous environments.
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Experience mentoring senior engineers and influencing engineering direction without formal authority.
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Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
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Experience leading first-of-kind autonomy or advanced R&D efforts.
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Experience across multiple autonomy domains (air, maritime, space, ground, or robotics).
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Experience transitioning prototypes into operational systems.
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Experience with government R&D programs and defense customers.
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Experience shaping engineering practices across an organization.
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Experience with UCI, OMS, STANAG 4586, or other defense interoperability standards.