{"id":3189316,"url":"https://alion.io/job/shield-ai-senior-systems-engineer-r6455","title":"Senior Systems Engineer (R6455)","company":{"id":50,"name":"Shield AI","domain":"shield.ai","url":"https://alion.io/company/shield-ai","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Lever","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":74,"open_postings":84,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.845,"repost_share":0.012,"time_to_fill_p50_days":65,"computed_at":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"}},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Seattle, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":145000,"max_usd":262000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":265},"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Cameo Systems Modeler","optional":false},{"name":"FMEA","optional":false},{"name":"IBM DOORS","optional":false},{"name":"MBSE","optional":false},{"name":"SysML","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-24T00:55:14Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-24","last_verified_at":"2026-10-31T17:57:26Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":7,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":7},"description":"As a Senior Systems Engineer on Shield AI’s next gen UAS program, you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and integrating cutting-edge autonomous aircraft systems for national defense. You will lead the technical execution of system architecture, ensuring seamless integration of avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensor payloads, and mission-critical systems.\nThis position requires a deep understanding of aerospace systems engineering, autonomy, and complex system integration. You will work cross-functionally with teams in hardware, software, autonomy, flight operations, and manufacturing to develop a scalable, mission-ready platform capable of operating in contested environments.\nYour expertise will be critical in defining system requirements and architectures through model-based systems engineering, conducting trade studies, ensuring compliance with military and aviation standards, and supporting the aircraft through flight testing and operational deployment.\nWhat You'll Do\nPerform System Architecture & Design: Develop and refine the system architecture for the next gen UAS, ensuring seamless integration of avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensor payloads, and mission systems.\nDefine and document system-level behavior, including modes, states, transitions, and fault responses\nSupport safety analyses (FHA, FMEA, FTA) by defining behavior under fault conditions\nDefine and Manage System Requirements: Establish top-level requirements, decompose them into subsystems, and maintain traceability across the development lifecycle.\nAutonomy & AI Integration: Work closely with autonomy and software teams to integrate AI-driven flight control, decision-making, and mission execution capabilities.\nModel-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE): Utilize SysML, DOORS, or other MBSE tools to create digital system models, conduct trade studies, and optimize system performance.\nRisk Management & Trade Studies: Conduct trade studies to evaluate design alternatives, assess technical risks, and ensure the best engineering solutions for mission effectiveness.\nStakeholder & Customer Engagement: Work closely with DoD stakeholders, industry partners, and government agencies to align system capabilities with operational requirements.\nCross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with hardware, autonomy, software, propulsion, and flight operations teams to drive seamless system integration and rapid development cycles.\nWhat You'll Bring\nRequired Qualifications:\n5+ years of experience in systems engineering for aerospace, defense, or autonomous aircraft systems.\nDemonstrated experience defining system behavior logic and operational modes\nDeep expertise in system architecture, avionics integration, and autonomy-driven flight systems.\nProficiency in MBSE, DOORS, SysML, CAMEO, or similar system modeling tools for complex systems design and analysis.\nExperience with Group 4 or Group 5 UAS, military aircraft, or autonomous airborne platforms.\nStrong background in flight testing, system integration, and performance validation.\nKnowledge of DoD acquisition processes, MIL-STDs, FAA airworthiness certification, and airborne system safety standards.\nDemonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive complex projects to successful completion.\nAbility to work in a fast-paced, agile development environment with shifting priorities.\nWorked on developmental program from clean sheet to first flight\nPreferred Qualifications:\nExperience developing AI-driven autonomy for unmanned aircraft.\nExpertise in ISR, EW, and advanced sensor integration for airborne platforms.\nFamiliarity with modular open system architectures (MOSA) and Government Reference Architectures (GRA) for defense applications.\nPrior experience working with defense primes, DoD stakeholders, or government R&D programs.\nActive Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one).","description_format":"text","description_chars":3866,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Military Drones","Defense Manufacturing","Defense AI","Drone AI"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-24T01:06:31Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 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