Software Engineer, Networking & OS (R5488)

Shield AI is hiring a Software Engineer, Networking & OS (R5488) in Dallas, United States. It pays $120k-$190k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Level.

AI in this role

Design and optimize resilient networking and OS infrastructure for autonomous unmanned aircraft systems operating in contested environments.

linuxtcp-ipnetworking-protocols

network-engineeringoperating-systemsembedded-systemssoftware-engineeringunmanned-systems

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, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. 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.

Job Description:

As a Software Engineer (Networking & OS) on V-BAT, you will be instrumental in designing, implementing, and optimizing the network infrastructure for our Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) which is deployed in some of the most challenging environments worldwide. V-BAT is designed to operate in contested, GNSS-denied airspace, and our network must maintain highly reliable, secure, and efficient communication between all air and ground devices.

How we rate this

Software Engineer, Networking & OS (R5488) at Shield AI rates 70 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.

●●●● 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. Open the description and count.

Key facts

Software Engineer, Networking & OS (R5488) is an open job at Shield AI.
Level rates this role AI Level 3 of 4: Works on AI.
The listed salary is $120k-$190k a year.
The role is based in Dallas, Texas.
The job was posted on August 4, 2026.
Seniority: mid.
Applications are handled by Shield AI. Apply on Shield AI

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Network EngineeringOperating SystemsEmbedded SystemsSoftware EngineeringUnmanned SystemsLinuxTcp IpNetworking Protocols

Also common in software engineer jobs at this level

Python AWS LLM Java AI agents TypeScript

Pay

This job starts at: $120k
Typical software engineer job: $168k

This posting starts 29% below the typical software engineer job. See software engineer jobs

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where network engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where operating systems was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where embedded systems was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where software engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where unmanned systems was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Network Engineering, Operating Systems, Embedded Systems, Software Engineering, and Unmanned Systems. 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.
Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.

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