Software Engineer (C++) (Vision)

Shield AI is a venture-backed defence technology company building intelligent autonomous systems for aircraft. Our mission is to protect service members and civilians through AI and autonomy.

Founded in 2015, Shield AI’s flagship autonomy software, Hivemind, powers aircraft, drones, and other platforms to perform complex missions with high reliability in contested environments.

For more information, visit www.shield.ai and follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

What You’ll Do:

• Design, develop, and deploy C++ software to support advanced autonomy and AI solutions for real-world missions.
• Collaborate with engineers working on AI, computer vision, control systems and robotics integration.
• Develop tooling, automation, and testing frameworks to support AI/robotics software development.
• Work closely with Subject Matter Experts to translate complex mission needs into high-quality software solutions.
• Develop and deploy software for edge compute (ARM), Linux, and Windows platforms.
• Contribute to cross-platform development and integration, including hardware interfacing.
• Work in an Agile Scrum environment, participating in sprints, reviews, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to .NET (C#) and JavaScript frameworks where relevant, with opportunities to broaden your tech stack.

What You’ll Bring:

• Recent, hands-on C++ software development experience.
• Experience working in cross-platform environments, including Windows, Linux, and ARM-based systems.
• Ability to work with hardware integration and complex system interfaces.
• Strong problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and able to take ownership of outcomes and deliverables.
• Comfortable working from loose scopes and driving tasks to completion with autonomy.
• Passion for solving complex technical challenges and working on impactful AI-based products.

Bonus Points For:

• Experience with multi-threaded, runtime-critical systems and algorithmic computation.
• System architecture design and development experience.
• Client/partner collaboration skills - comfortable working with external engineering teams (occasional travel a plus).
• Experience with automated build and testing tools (e.g., CI/CD pipelines).
• Background or interest in image/video processing, artificial intelligence, or computer vision technologies.
• Previous Defence experience is highly desirable.

Why Shield AI?

• Work on mission-critical AI and autonomy systems solving real-world defence and security challenges.
• Join a high-performing, collaborative engineering team working at the cutting edge of technology.
• Enjoy a flexible, supportive work environment - our office is located in Port Melbourne, close to Melbourne CBD.
• Salary + equity for permanent roles, with flexible working options available.

Help us redefine what’s possible in autonomous defence — apply today!

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, colour, 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.