Lead the development of avionics systems, integrating flight computers and navigation solutions, managing a multi-disciplinary engineering team, ensuring compliance and performance standards, and conducting design reviews and flight tests.
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Boston, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram.
Job Description:
Shield AI is redefining autonomous aviation with cutting-edge AI and GPS/RF-denied navigation technologies. Now, we’re building a next-generation aircraft like no other—one that will push the boundaries of innovation and performance.
We’re looking for a Senior Director of Avionics to take ownership of all aspects of the avionics system and lead our engineering team from concept to production. If you thrive in fast-paced environments, excel in cross-functional leadership, and are passionate about building high-performance avionics, we want to hear from you.
What You'll Do
- Lead the end-to-end development of avionics systems across aircraft platforms, from concept through flight test and production.
- Architect and guide the integration of flight computers, mission processors, navigation systems, RF communications, and payload interfaces.
- Develop robust, GPS-/RF-denied navigation solutions integrating INS, visual odometry, radar-aided systems, and other sensors.
- Build and manage a high-performing multi-disciplinary engineering team (EE, embedded SW, RF, systems, test).
- Ensure avionics meet performance, safety, environmental, and EMI/EMC compliance standards, including DO-254, DO-178C, MIL-STD-810, and MIL-STD-461.
- Collaborate across autonomy, software, airframe, and manufacturing teams to ensure cohesive and high-performance system integration.
- Drive technical planning, supplier decisions, and make/buy strategies for avionics subsystems.
- Lead design reviews, system validation, failure analysis, and flight test readiness.
Avionics Architecture & Design
- System-level avionics architecture (modular, redundant, SWaP-optimized)
- Distributed computing/networking (e.g., Ethernet, CAN, ARINC 429, MIL-STD-1553)
- Sensor and payload integration (e.g., EO/IR, radar, SIGINT, LIDAR)
- Proven experience designing and leading complex avionics systems architecture
- Expertise in distributed computing and avionics data buses (e.g., Ethernet, CAN, ARINC 429, MIL-STD-1553)
- Integration of mission and flight computers, navigation systems, radios, and payload interfaces
Flight Computers & Embedded Systems
- Selection/design of mission and flight control computers
- Real-time embedded systems (RTOS, bare-metal, or Linux-based)
- Board bring-up, BSP development, and hardware/software co-design
Power & Signal Integrity
- Power distribution for avionics systems (28VDC, high-reliability power supplies)
- EMI/EMC design and testing (MIL-STD-461)
- Signal integrity for high-speed digital buses (e.g., PCIe, Ethernet)
Software Engineering Knowledge
- DO-178C software lifecycle concepts
- Avionics middleware (e.g., DDS, ROS 2, custom pub/sub frameworks)
- Cybersecurity for embedded and avionics systems (air gap, encryption, secure boot)
Leadership-Oriented Technical Skills
- Technical roadmap planning and architecture evolution
- Make/buy decisions for avionics and COTS components
- Supplier management (technical performance, quality, delivery)
- Cost, schedule, and risk tradeoffs in technical planning
- Mentorship and team technical upskilling
#LI-JM2
#LG
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.
Top Skills
AI
Arinc 429
Can
Ethernet
Gps
Ins
Linux
Mil-Std-1553
Pcie
Radar
Rf
Rtos
Visual Odometry
Shield AI Waltham, Massachusetts, USA Office
500 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, MA, United States, 02451
Similar Jobs
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Lead avionics engineering for next-generation aircraft, mentor a team while ensuring compliance with industry standards and performance requirements.
Top Skills:
AIAvionicsGpsRf
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • HR Tech • Information Technology • Productivity • Software • Automation
As a Customer Success Manager, you will advocate for customers, ensuring they achieve business outcomes and maximize their investment in ServiceNow products.
Top Skills:
AIServicenow
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • HR Tech • Information Technology • Productivity • Software • Automation
The Customer Success Manager will advocate for customers, oversee their portfolio, ensure technical health, guide problem resolution, and promote ServiceNow product usage and success stories.
Top Skills:
AIServicenow
What you need to know about the Boston Tech Scene
Boston is a powerhouse for technology innovation thanks to world-class research universities like MIT and Harvard and a robust pipeline of venture capital investment. Host to the first telephone call and one of the first general-purpose computers ever put into use, Boston is now a hub for biotechnology, robotics and artificial intelligence — though it’s also home to several B2B software giants. So it’s no surprise that the city consistently ranks among the greatest startup ecosystems in the world.
Key Facts About Boston Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 269,000; 9.4% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Toast, Klaviyo, HubSpot, DraftKings
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, software, aerospace
- Funding Landscape: $15.7 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Summit Partners, Volition Capital, Bain Capital Ventures, MassVentures, Highland Capital Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: MIT, Harvard University, Boston College, Tufts University, Boston University, Northeastern University, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, National Bureau of Economic Research, Broad Institute, Lowell Center for Space Science & Technology, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories
