Senior Engineer, GNC - Sensor Integration (R4601)

United States / San Diego, California / Dallas, Texas / Boston, MA

X-BAT Division – X-BAT Engineering - Software /

Full Time Employee /

On-site

Founded in 2015, 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 and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. 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 are seeking a Sensor Integration Engineer to support selection, characterization, calibration, and integration of multi-modal navigation and localization sensors for aerospace applications. This role operates at the intersection of electrical, mechanical, and software engineering, requiring the ability to work across disciplines and directly contribute to cross-functional engineering efforts.

What you'll do:

Sensor Selection, Integration & Characterization:

Support sensor integration activities from specification through production
Develop and execute sensor characterization and calibration procedures for IMUs, GNSS receivers, cameras, and other navigation sensors
Contribute to sensor trade studies and selection processes

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

Work closely with electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and software engineering teams on:
Electrical interfaces, power distribution, and signal conditioning
Mounting solutions, alignment, and thermal/vibration considerations
Software interfaces, drivers, data acquisition, and calibration implementation
Participate in design reviews across EE/ME/SW disciplines, providing interdisciplinary perspective and coordination
Willingness to support occasional travel to support teammates with integration and testing

Technical Contributions:

Develop and execute test plans for sensor performance characterization and validation
Document sensor characteristics, trade studies, and integration requirements
Develop or modify calibration scripts and data processing tools
Support development of calibration procedures and tooling
Debug issues spanning hardware-firmware-software boundaries
Review and contribute to schematics, CAD models, and code as necessary

Required qualifications:

Education & Experience:

BS in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related field
1-4 years of relevant experience (new grads with strong cross-functional internship/project experience will be considered)
Demonstrated ability to work across at least two of: electrical, mechanical, software domains
Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

Technical Skills:

Understanding of sensor measurement principles and error sources
Ability to read and understand electrical schematics and/or mechanical drawings
Basic proficiency in scripting or programming for data analysis (Python, MATLAB, or similar)
Familiarity with sensor communication protocols (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, etc.)
Hands-on experience with lab equipment and sensor testing

Cross-Functional Aptitude:

Comfortable learning and working outside primary discipline
Ability to communicate effectively with engineers from different backgrounds
Willingness to engage with hardware, firmware, and software aspects of sensor systems
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills across multiple domains

Preferred qualifications:

Experience with navigation or localization sensors (IMUs, GNSS, cameras, altimeters, etc.)
Exposure to sensor calibration or characterization activities
Basic proficiency with engineering tools such as Altium, NX, and Teamcenter
Familiarity with embedded systems or real-time software
Understanding of coordinate transformations or sensor fusion concepts
Experience with automated testing or data acquisition systems
Knowledge of aerospace environmental testing or standards

$110,000 - $170,000 a year

#LI-SM1

#LC

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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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