At a Glance
- Tasks: Solve complex engineering challenges for advanced autonomous systems in defence applications.
- Company: Join Shield AI, a leader in innovative defence technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with dynamic projects and excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on cutting-edge autonomous systems that shape the future of defence.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in software development with C++ and Python; strong systems engineering background.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
The Systems Engineer, Autonomy & Software at Shield AI is responsible for solving complex systems engineering challenges associated with the development, integration, and deployment of advanced autonomous systems for defense applications.
This role sits at the intersection of systems engineering, software engineering, and autonomy.
The Systems Engineer works across multidisciplinary engineering teams to translate mission and customer needs into system requirements, architectures, interfaces, and verification strategies while maintaining a deep technical understanding of the software and autonomy capabilities being delivered.
The ideal candidate has a strong background in software and autonomy, is comfortable developing and debugging software in C++ and Python, and has significant experience applying systems engineering principles within complex defense programs.
They should be equally comfortable working at the system level and diving into technical implementation when required.
- What you’ll do
- Apply systems engineering principles to the development and integration of autonomous systems for defense applications.
- Translate operational needs, mission objectives, and customer requirements into clear system, subsystem, software, and autonomy requirements.
- Develop and maintain system architectures, functional decompositions, interface definitions, Interface Control Documents, requirements traceability, and verification strategies.
- Work closely with autonomy, software, guidance, navigation and control, avionics, hardware, test, and platform engineering teams to ensure successful system integration.
- Define and manage interfaces between Hivemind Autonomy, vehicle systems, mission systems, sensors, communications, payloads, and external systems.
- Maintain a strong understanding of the underlying autonomy and software architecture, including how system level requirements translate into software behavior and implementation.
- Develop software, prototypes, analysis tools, test infrastructure, and engineering utilities using C++ and Python when required to solve integration and system level engineering problems.
- Use code, simulation, logs, telemetry, and other engineering data to investigate system behavior, diagnose failures, validate assumptions, and support technical decision making.
- Lead and support system integration activities across simulation, software in the loop, hardware in the loop, ground test, and flight test environments.
- Required Qualifications
- BS or MS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical discipline.
- 5+ years of experience developing, integrating, or delivering complex software intensive systems, preferably within aerospace, defense, robotics, or autonomous systems.
- Strong software engineering background with hands on experience developing and debugging software in C++ and Python.
- Experience with autonomous or robotic systems, including familiarity with areas such as perception, planning, estimation, guidance, navigation, controls, or mission autonomy.
- Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and their application to complex defense systems.
- Experience developing and managing system and subsystem requirements, including requirements decomposition, allocation, traceability, and verification.
- Experience developing system architectures, functional architectures, interface definitions, Interface Control Documents, and other system level engineering artifacts.
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.
Senior Systems Engineer - Autonomy & Software in London employer: Shield AI
At Shield AI, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in the defence technology sector. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous learning opportunities and a culture that values technical excellence and leadership, making it an ideal place for professionals eager to make a meaningful impact in the field of autonomous weapon systems.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Systems Engineer - Autonomy & Software in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Shield AI or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Shield AI.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Shield AI.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Shield AI that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Systems Engineer - Autonomy & Software in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Shield AI.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Shield AI and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Shield AI
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Shield AI uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
