Staff Engineer, Software (C++/Networking) (R4337)
Shield AI · San Diego, CA · Hivemind Platform Division
principal
software engineering
Principal Engineer
tech_leadership
· Posted Jan 7, 2026
$150,000 – $270,000
USD per-year-salary
Skills
About this role
Shield AI is hiring a principal-level Principal Engineer in the software engineering function based in San Diego, CA. The posting calls out experience with C++, Networking, Distributed Systems. Compensation is listed at $150,000–$270,000 per-year-salary.
- Role
- Principal Engineer
- Function
- software engineering
- Level
- principal
- Track
- Tech leadership
- Employment
- Full-time
- Location
- San Diego, CA
- Department
- Hivemind Platform Division
- Posted
- Jan 7, 2026
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Job description
from Shield AI careersFounded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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.
Job Description:
Shield AI is seeking a Staff Engineer to help lead the design and development of advanced networking capabilities that support our autonomous systems. As part of the Hivemind Foundations team, you’ll focus on building high-performance, reliable networking software spanning transport through application layers. Your work will enable resilient communications for autonomous aircraft and ground systems operating in dynamic and contested environments. This role sits at the intersection of networking, distributed systems, and autonomy infrastructure, and is critical to our ability to deploy robust autonomous systems in real-world operations.
Shield AI is seeking a Staff Engineer to help lead the design and development of advanced networking capabilities that support our autonomous systems. As part of the Hivemind Foundations team, you’ll focus on building high-performance, reliable networking software spanning transport through application layers. Your work will enable resilient communications for autonomous aircraft and ground systems operating in dynamic and contested environments. This role sits at the intersection of networking, distributed systems, and autonomy infrastructure, and is critical to our ability to deploy robust autonomous systems in real-world operations.
What you'll do:
- Lead the development of the EdgeOS Communication stack used in deployed systems.
- Own the architecture, implementation, and integration of high-performance C++ networking components.
- Develop and optimize transport- and application-layer networking features for reliable, low-latency communication.
This is an excerpt. Read the full job description on Shield AI careers →