The posting, in Shield AI's own words
archived Sep 8, 2026Shield 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 are seeking a Sr. Staff Engineer, Operational Analysis to drive the modeling, simulation, and analysis of Shield AI’s autonomous aircraft systems. This role is pivotal in evaluating the mission effectiveness, survivability, and operational impact of our autonomy solutions across multiple platforms and domains. You will work closely with engineering, product development, and defense stakeholders to inform design trade-offs, assess system performance, and optimize mission capabilities. This position requires a deep understanding of military operations, wargaming, modeling & simulation (M&S), analytic techniques, and operational analysis techniques. Your work will directly shape Shield AI’s strategy by identifying how our AI-powered platforms can best serve the evolving needs of modern warfare.
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What You'll Do
Develop and execute operational analysis strategies to assess the effectiveness of autonomous aircraft in real-world military scenarios. Lead modeling, simulation, and wargaming efforts to evaluate system performance, mission impact, and survivability in contested environments. Work closely with engineering teams and product managers to translate operational insights into design decisions and system improvements. Conduct trade studies and sensitivity analyses to assess system performance under varying operational conditions and threats. Utilize advanced modeling & simulation tools (e.g., AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, Python) to develop high-fidelity mission models. Analyze force-on-force engagements, sensor effectiveness, and autonomy-driven decision-making to optimize mission success. Collaborate with DoD stakeholders, operators, and warfighters to understand mission needs and align system capabilities with operational requirements. Support concept of operations (CONOPS) development for new AI-driven aircraft capabilities. Identify emerging threats and operational challenges, ensuring Shield AI’s systems remain ahead of adversary capabilities. Develop and present technical reports, briefings, and recommendations to senior leadership, customers, and government agencies. Leverage modern compute and development best practices (e.g., scalable cloud/HPC workflows, containerization, version control, , and automated testing) to build, run, and iterate high-fidelity simulation and analysis pipelines quickly and reliably.