Shield AISenior Staff Engineer, LRV Systems (R6242)
Shield AI is hiring a Senior Staff Engineer, LRV Systems (R6242) in Seattle, United States. It pays $170k-$310k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Shield AI.
Level's read on this job
- Level rates this role Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include systems engineering, avionics and requirements management.
- Level classifies it as a senior role.
- Level lists 657 other open roles at Shield AI.
AI in this role
Design, develop, and integrate the launch and recovery vehicle for next-generation unmanned aircraft systems.
Job Description:
As a Staff Systems Engineer on Shield AI's next gen UAS program, you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and integrating the Launch & Recovery Vehicle (LRV), the system that transports, deploys, launches, and recovers our autonomous aircraft in a variety of environments. You will lead the technical execution of system architecture, ensuring seamless integration of avionics, hydraulics, electrical power distribution, navigation, and the mechanical, electrical, and data interfaces to the aircraft.
You will work with the air vehicle’s propulsion, hardware, software, flight operations, and manufacturing teams to deliver a mobile, mission-ready LRV that works as part of the full UAS platform. You will also help shape how the system is transported, emplaced, and operated in the field. That means developing CONOPs that set deployment timelines, crew roles, logistics footprint, and how the system survives in the field.
Required qualifications:
- System Architecture & Design: Develop and refine the LRV architecture, integrating avionics, hydraulics, electrical power distribution, navigation, and launch and recovery mechanisms into one vehicle that works reliably.
- System Behavior & Safety: Define and document LRV modes, states, transitions, and fault responses for transport, emplacement, launch, recovery, and stow. Support safety analyses (FHA, FMEA, FTA) by defining behavior under fault conditions.
- Requirements Management: Establish top-level LRV requirements, break them down into subsystem requirements, and maintain traceability across the development lifecycle.
- CONOPs Development: Develop transportation and deployment CONOPs that cover road, air, and ship transportability, rapid relocation, crew workload, and sustainment. Turn these operational needs into system requirements.
- Trade Studies & Risk Management: Conduct trade studies to evaluate design alternatives, assess technical risks, and ensure the best engineering solutions for mission effectiveness.
- Integration & Test: Support LRV integration, ground testing, and verification, and support combined LRV and aircraft testing through flight test and operational deployment.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Work with DoD stakeholders, end users, and industry partners to align LRV capabilities and CONOPs with operational requirements.
Required qualifications:
- Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree
- Demonstrated experience defining system architecture, behavior logic, and operational modes for complex electromechanical systems
- Experience integrating avionics, hydraulic systems, electrical power distribution, and navigation on vehicles, launch and recovery systems, or ground support equipment
- Proficiency in MBSE tools such as SysML, Cameo, DOORS, or similar
- Experience developing or applying CONOPs, including transportability, deployment, and field operations considerations
- Strong background in system integration, test, and performance validation, ideally on a program taken from clean sheet to first operation
- Knowledge of DoD acquisition processes and relevant standards (e.g., MIL-STD-882, MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-1275, MIL-STD-1366, MIL-STD-1472)
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, agile environment with shifting priorities
- Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with launch and recovery systems for Group 4 or Group 5 UAS, catapult or rail launchers, or military tactical vehicles
- Experience with expeditionary or distributed operations concepts and their logistics and sustainment needs
- Familiarity with modular open system architectures (MOSA) and Government Reference Architectures (GRA)
- Prior experience working with defense primes, DoD stakeholders, or government R&D programs
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance
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. ### 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 we rate this
Senior Staff Engineer, LRV Systems (R6242) at Shield AI rates 10 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Little AI. AI is not part of the work.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where systems engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where avionics was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where requirements management was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where fmea was part of your work. What did you do?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Systems Engineering, Avionics, Requirements Management, and Fmea. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
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