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:
We’re seeking a Staff Designer to join our Ground Control Station (GCS) team and shape the user experience of next-generation UAS control software. This role is ideal for a systems-minded designer with a passion for solving complex UX problems in mission-critical, real-time environments.
You’ll work alongside engineers, operators, and product teams to design intuitive workflows and spatial interfaces that allow users to plan, command, and monitor autonomous assets with confidence and clarity.
What you'll do:
- Lead design efforts for key GCS capabilities, ensuring user needs are met across the full development lifecycle.
- Collaborate with engineering, autonomy, product, and test teams to gather system constraints and translate them into user-centered design solutions.
- Influence cross-functional planning, roadmap prioritization, and long-term product vision.
- Drive the end-to-end design process—from concept, wireframes, and prototypes to detailed UI specs and implementation support.
- Regularly test and iterate on designs with real users, incorporating feedback to improve usability and mission effectiveness.
- Help define and maintain a coherent visual and interaction language that supports real-time control, situational awareness, and operational trust.
- Advocate for operator experience and usability in high-stakes environments where clarity, speed, and precision are critical.
- Contribute to the evolution of our design systems, tooling, and cross-platform interface strategy.
- Travel to test flights to perform operator research and support the rollout of new GCS features.
Required qualifications:
- Minimum of 7 years of design, HCI, or related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 4 years of experience; or equivalent experience.
- 3+ years of experience leading end-to-end product design across complex features or products.
- Proven track record designing complex, interactive systems—especially in domains involving spatial data, control interfaces, or high information density.
- Demonstrated expertise in Figma as a primary design tool for creating scalable, system-driven designs.
- Deep experience working within cross-functional teams, synthesizing and input from Product Management and Engineering.
- Experience conducting usability testing and integrating user feedback into iterative design cycles.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design rationale and tradeoffs.
- Ability to work efficiently, demonstrating bias for action in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience designing interfaces for real-time control systems (e.g., UAS, robotics, vehicles, or aviation platforms).
- Familiarity with military or mission-critical systems and operator workflows.
- Understanding of design constraints imposed by low-latency or high-performance software systems.
- Exposure to 2D/3D mapping, telemetry visualization, or command-and-control interfaces.
- Familiarity with web-based frontends (React, WebGL, etc.) or embedded UI technologies.
- Familiarization with, and experience implementing, Military Standards (MIL-STDs) to product design.
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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.
