Staff Software Engineer, GCS - Full Stack (R5192)

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. The Staff Software Engineer will design and develop web-based Ground Control Station (GCS) and Command & Control (C2) applications, mentor mid-level engineers, and collaborate with various teams to enhance mission-critical systems.

Responsibilities:

• Develop & Field Web-Based GCS/C2 Software — Design, develop, and optimize high-performance, responsive GCS software and C2 applications, utilizing modern web technologies (e.g., React, TypeScript, Node.js, Go) to build map-centric mission planning, real-time command & control, video streaming, and telemetry visualization interfaces
• Technical Leadership — Own technical direction for major GCS features and full-stack subsystems; architect frontend/backend architectures, design robust APIs, and lead technical decision-making within your project area
• Collaboration Across Teams — Act as a primary technical interface with the Autonomy Capabilities team, Perception team, flight operations, and external partners (platform integrators, C2 providers, and vehicle vendors); author and negotiate APIs, REST/WebSocket schemas, and interface contracts rather than just consume them
• Mentorship & Growth — Mentor mid-level engineers on the team; partner with managers on onboarding, leveling, and growth planning. Formally onboard senior new hires
• Design, UX, & Documentation — Drive design reviews, UI/UX prototyping, and API/ICD definitions; champion modern frontend and backend development practices, rigorous unit/integration testing, and developer/operator documentation to close process gaps that span teams
• Pre-deployment Preparation — Own the build, configuration, and validation process for mission-ready ground stations and C2 web servers; coordinate hardware/software compatibility, UI/UX readiness, and containerized release cadence
• On-site Test & Mission Support — Travel to test sites and support live mission operations (flight tests, range exercises, on-water trials, integration events), working closely with operators and pilots to gather feedback, debug live C2 systems, and troubleshoot web interfaces and network configurations under time-critical field constraints
• System Debugging & Performance Tuning — Diagnose and resolve integration issues across GCS/C2 stacks, radio links, and telemetry streams — including UI rendering bottlenecks, API latency, database query optimization, and network latency profiling under operationally-representative loads
• Mission Data & Debrief Support — Architect and implement post-mission debrief utilities and telemetry analysis tools that parse, play back, and visualize telemetry, logs, and payload data for rapid post-mission analysis and issue reproduction
• Continuous Improvement — Build tools and automation scripts to improve C2 deployment pipelines, test/mission reliability, and simulation-based operator testing
• C2 Interoperability & Standards — Own compliance and integration with command-and-control standards and architectures (e.g., A-GRA, UCI, OMS, STANAG 4586, MAVLink)
• Hiring — Interview candidates, help define the skills bar for open roles in your area, and onboard new engineers into your sub-program
• Travel Requirement — Members of this team typically travel around 10-20% of the year (to support field integration, customer demonstrations, or test events)

Requirements:

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
• Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a Master's degree; or 4 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience
• Experience with modern frontend frameworks (e.g., React, TypeScript) and building rich, interactive user experiences in responsive web-based applications
• Experience full-stack or building backend in C/C++, Python, TypeScript, or Go, including service orchestration, command/status interfaces, and data pipelines between UI, ground services, and vehicle-side components
• Deep familiarity with networked and distributed systems, including UDP/TCP transport, custom binary protocols, reliable messaging, pub-sub/IPC middleware, and serialization/IDL tooling
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools to accelerate software design, implementation, debugging, testing, and code review while maintaining strong engineering judgment, validation discipline, and ownership of final technical decisions
• Experience working with databases, including relational (e.g., PostgreSQL) or NoSQL databases, with preference for experience handling spatial/geographic data (e.g., PostGIS)
• Demonstrated experience owning a major software capability or system from architecture through field delivery
• Track record of mentoring engineers and growing technical talent
• Experience authoring or negotiating interface contracts, API specifications (e.g., OpenAPI/Swagger), or ICDs with internal or external stakeholders
• Strong debugging and profiling skills, including diagnosing browser rendering bottlenecks, API latencies, and network connectivity issues
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), web mapping libraries (e.g., Maplibre GL, Leaflet, CesiumJS, OpenLayers), and 2D/3D spatial data visualization
• Familiarity with video streaming protocols and multimedia frameworks in a web environment (e.g., WebRTC, HLS, RTSP-to-Web gateways, GStreamer, FFmpeg)
• Experience developing post-mission telemetry analysis, log parsing, or interactive web-based playback/debrief systems
• Experience with containerization and orchestration (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, k3s/k3d) and deploying C2 services to local, edge, or cloud environments
• Experience with platform control / autopilot protocols (e.g., MAVLink, STANAG 4586) or DoD C2 standards (e.g., A-GRA, UCI, OMS)
• Experience working closely with flight operators, pilots, or military stakeholders to gather feedback and refine user workflows
• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance