Staff Engineer, Field Service (R6120)

Job Description:
At Shield AI, we are developing autonomy solutions that enhance mission effectiveness and operational decision-making. Our Vision Systems / Hivemind Vision portfolio applies computer vision and AI/ML technologies to help defense, government, and commercial customers gain actionable information from optical sensors. 
As a Vision Systems Demonstration & Training Specialist on the demonstration and training team, you will support customer demonstrations, operator training, and operational adoption across the portfolio. Working closely with product management, engineering, and business development, you will help customers understand, evaluate, and effectively employ our capabilities. 
This role requires operational credibility, technical fluency, and a strong instinct for teaching and customer engagement. The ideal candidate understands the demands facing sensor operators and intelligence teams—including real-time workload, competing mission priorities, and the challenges of integrating multiple sensors and information sources—and brings that perspective to every demonstration, training event, and customer interaction.

What you'll do:

Demonstration & Operational Support:

- Plan and execute customer flight plans for demonstrations that connect product capabilities to specific mission needs and operational workflows.

- Prepare and operate Vision Systems software, sensor interfaces, and associated mission equipment during demonstrations, exercises, and evaluations.

- Support equipment readiness, system configuration, connectivity checks, and field troubleshooting in coordination with engineering and flight operations personnel.

- Apply crew resource management and operational risk management principles to event preparation, execution, and debriefing.

- Assist in development of realistic scenarios, demonstration plans, briefing materials, and measures of success in coordination with product management and business development.

Training & Standardization:

- Develop and deliver operator training, practical exercises, and supporting materials for customers and internal teams.

- Teach system operation, effective employment, and capability limitations in the context of the customer’s mission.

- Assess operator proficiency and adapt instruction to different experience levels and operational backgrounds.

- Develop and maintain procedures, checklists, instructional guides, and standardized demonstration materials.

- Capture lessons learned and incorporate them into training content and operational practices.

Customer Engagement & Adoption:

- Build trusted relationships with operators, instructors, intelligence personnel, and customer program teams.

- Understand customer challenges and help translate them into practical approaches for employing Vision Systems capabilities.

- Support customer onboarding, operational familiarization, and follow-up engagement after demonstrations and training.

- Communicate clearly with operational, technical, and leadership audiences, setting realistic expectations for system performance and employment.

- Help customers understand how product outputs fit into existing mission systems, tactical applications, and intelligence workflows.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Product Feedback:

- Translate customer observations into clear descriptions of operational needs, usability issues, and opportunities for improvement.

- Partner with product management and engineering to evaluate new capabilities and validate them against representative operational scenarios.

- Support integration and field-test activities through mission-system operation, data collection, issue documentation, and operational feedback.

- Contribute to concepts of operation, application guidance, and customer-facing technical materials.

- Coordinate with business development and marketing to ensure demonstrations and messaging accurately represent product capabilities and operational value.

Required qualifications:

- Significant experience in airborne ISR sensor operations, operational intelligence support, or a closely related mission-system or field applications role.

- Practical understanding of EO/IR sensor employment, particularly gimballed sensors and full-motion video, including real-time task management, crew coordination, and operation alongside other intelligence sensors.

- Understanding of ISR collection and processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED), including how sensor outputs support operational decisions.

- Working familiarity with mission-system interfaces, tactical applications, communications networks, and data links used to exchange sensor information and intelligence products.

- Familiarity with joint ISR collection and dynamic targeting.

- Understanding of crew resource management (CRM) and operational risk management (ORM).

- Demonstrated ability to instruct, mentor, or deliver effective operational and technical briefings.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to both technical and operational audiences.

- Strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and demonstrated empathy for end users.

- Ability to learn new software and mission systems, troubleshoot operational issues, and work independently during customer engagements.

- Ability to travel domestically and internationally for demonstrations, training, exercises, and customer support.

Relevant military, contractor, or industry experience may substitute for formal academic qualifications.

Preferred qualifications:

- Experience as an airborne sensor operator in manned and unmanned ISR platforms, maritime patrol, special operations, or comparable multi-sensor mission environments.

- Instructor, evaluator, or standardization experience, including development of curricula, qualification standards, or operating procedures.

- Experience supporting joint or special operations customers through military service or government-contracted ISR programs.

- Experience GRP 1, 2 and 3 UAS on platforms such as the MC-12, U-28, AC-130, P-8, or comparable contractor-operated ISR aircraft.

- Aviation safety experience or comparable responsibility for safety programs, operational risk assessment, and incident prevention.

- Experience employing EO/IR sensors alongside radar, signals intelligence, or other collection systems.

- Experience integrating sensors or mission systems on airborne platforms, or supporting operational test and evaluation.

- Customer-facing experience with a sensor, mission-system, or defense technology provider.

- Familiarity with automated target detection and recognition, computer vision, or multi-sensor fusion applications.

- Experience supporting UAS demonstrations or flight-test activities, including coordination with flight crews and operation of payloads or associated mission systems.

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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.
 
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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.