principal software engineering Principal Engineer management · Posted Jun 22, 2026

$205,000 – $307,000

USD per-year-salary

Skills

About this role

Shield AI is hiring a principal-level Principal Engineer in the software engineering function based in Washington, DC. The posting calls out experience with Machine Learning. Compensation is listed at $205,000–$307,000 per-year-salary.

Role: Principal Engineer
Function: software engineering
Level: principal
Track: Management
Employment: Full-time
Location: Washington, DC
Department: Hivemind Solutions Division
Posted: Jun 22, 2026

Job description

from Shield AI careers

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Shield AI is seeking a Chief Engineer of Autonomy to lead the technical execution of autonomy capabilities supporting one of the most important military aviation initiatives of our generation.

As the senior technical leader for Shield AI's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) autonomy efforts, you will help define how autonomous aircraft operate alongside crewed fighters in contested environments, enabling a new era of air superiority through trusted, scalable autonomy.

This role carries end-to-end responsibility for technical vision, architecture, execution, flight test, operational integration, and customer success. You will work across engineering, product, flight operations, programs, and government stakeholders to transition autonomy from development to operational capability at scale.

This is not a research position. This is a position focused on delivering mission-ready autonomy systems that perform in real-world operational environments.

What You'll Do:

Serve as the senior technical authority for Shield AI's CCA autonomy efforts, accountable for technical strategy, architecture, execution, customer engagement, and mission effectiveness.

Lead the development, integration, and deployment of operational autonomy capabilities from concept through flight test, operational evaluation, and fielding.

Define and evolve autonomy architectures spanning mission planning, perception, decision-making, collaborative behaviors, human-machine teaming, and platform integration.

Drive engineering rigor and technical governance across the program, ensuring sound architectural decisions, disciplined execution, and mission-focused outcomes.

Partner closely with program leadership to balance risk, schedule, operational requirements, and customer priorities.

Lead technical readiness for major demonstrations, flight tests, program milestones, operational assessments, and customer engagements.

Direct verification, validation, and operational integration efforts required to establish trust, performance, safety, and mission effectiveness.

Build and mentor a world-class technical organization consisting of chief engineers, architects, principal engineers, autonomy developers, and mission domain experts.

Help shape the future of autonomous air combat by influencing requirements, concepts of operation, technical roadmaps, and next-generation autonomy capabilities.

Required Qualifications:

15+ years of engineering experience developing complex aerospace, defense, autonomy, weapons, or mission-critical systems.

Experience serving as a Chief Engineer, Technical Director, Chief Architect, Technical Fellow, Technical Program Manager, or equivalent technical leadership role.

Demonstrated success leading large multidisciplinary engineering teams through development, integration, test, and deployment of operational systems.

Proven ability to lead across software, systems, AI/ML, simulation, mission systems, flight test, and operational stakeholders.

Experience delivering major defense products with significant technical complexity and customer visibility.

Experience working directly with Air Force, Navy, Operational Users, Program Executive Offices, or major defense acquisition programs.

Strong executive communication skills with the ability to influence government, military, and industry leaders.

Experience operating effectively in rapidly evolving, high-consequence environments.

Active Secret clearance with the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP), advanced aviation autonomy programs, or related initiatives.

Experience with crewed-uncrewed teaming, mission autonomy, autonomous mission systems, air combat autonomy, or collaborative autonomous systems.

Background in military aviation, advanced aerospace systems, weapons systems, mission systems integration, or combat aircraft development.

Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

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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.