Senior Staff Engineer, LRV Systems (R6242)

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.

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.

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

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