Senior Staff Engineer, C++ Modeling & Simulation Engineer (R3453)
New Today
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Its products include Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge—as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems (wide-area motion imaging software). With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, , Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit Follow Shield AI on and This position is perfect for a seasoned C++ engineer with advanced expertise in modeling and simulation, systems, and systems integration. As a key leader, you will tackle the most challenging and complex projects with minimal oversight, driving impactful results in collaboration with a dynamic and skilled team. You will develop simulation solutions to drive autonomy development on high impact projects. This is an opportunity to shape innovative solutions, integrating third-party systems and simulation environments, and advancing cutting-edge technologies. What You'll Do:
Lead the design, development, and maintenance of high-performance C++ software for complex systems.
Architect robust, scalable simulation solutions for systems of systems and real-time processing.
Drive the integration of third-party software and hardware systems into comprehensive architectures.
Set technical standards and mentor other engineers to promote excellence and best practices.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure project alignment and successful delivery.
Implement modern agile software development practices, including continuous integration and test-driven development.
Tackle complex debugging and optimization challenges to enhance system performance.
Explore and adopt new technologies to stay at the forefront of the field.
Drive task decomposition for teams and individuals
Required Qualifications:
Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years and a Master’s degree; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience
Advanced professional experience in software engineering and systems integration
Familiarity with design patterns and system-level engineering principles
Extensive experience in C++ using modern C++ (C++17/20) while possessing a solid understanding of older standards (C++98/03) for adapting to legacy code and systems seamlessly
Experience in Python
Experience with AFSIM or NGTS
Real-time and distributed simulation experience
Programming experience in a Linux environment (Windows experience is a bonus)
Expertise with Docker or other containerization mechanisms
Demonstrated success leading projects with 10+ contributors
Exceptional problem-solving skills, with a fast, efficient, and effective approach
Deep understanding of design patterns and system architecture principles
Experience in a collaborative development environment, focused on continuous integration/delivery and test-driven development
Passion for learning and implementing new technologies
Demonstrated experience being a trustworthy teammate
Demonstrated kindness to teammates
Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
MS or greater in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or similar degree, or equivalent practical experience.
Proficiency in Python
Advanced knowledge of third-party system integration (software and hardware).
Experience with plugin development in DOD simulations such as AFSIM and NGTS
Experience with web-service technologies like gRPC, REST APIs, message queues (ActiveMQ, ZeroMQ), etc.
Familiarity with C++ tooling like CMake and Conan
Experience with UCI and OMS Standards
Active SECRET clearance
What We Value:
Strong leadership and mentorship capabilities
Exceptional communication and organizational skills
Dedication to delivering high-quality, innovative solutions
A collaborative and supportive team-oriented mindset
This role is for individuals ready to lead with impact, taking ownership of their work and inspiring their teams to deliver outstanding results in an agile and forward-thinking environment$175,232 - $262,848 a year#LE#LI-ED1Full-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.
- Location:
- Washington
- Job Type:
- PartTime