Senior Staff Engineer, Communications Systems
Real job — pulled straight from Shield AI’s careers page · Verified July 14, 2026 · No reposts.
Job description
Shield AI is hiring a Senior Staff Engineer, Communications Systems — a full-time, based in San Diego, CA role. Apply directly on Shield AI's careers page below.
Senior Staff Engineer, GCS / Communications Systems (R5020)
Team: X-BAT Engineering - System Engineering & Integrated Test
Location: San Diego, California
Commitment: Full Time Employee
Workplace Type: onsite
Salary:
Job Description:
We are seeking a GCS / Communications Systems Engineer to lead the development, integration, and validation of ground control station and communication architectures supporting advanced military aircraft and autonomous systems. This role directly impacts mission effectiveness, command and control reliability, platform connectivity, and operational resiliency by ensuring robust communication between air, ground, and distributed mission systems.
The engineer will define system behaviors, operational workflows, and communication architectures across the full lifecycle, from concept development through flight and operational test. This role plays a critical part in reducing integration risk, improving network resiliency, and accelerating deployment of mission-critical communication capabilities.
What you'll do:
- Define GCS and communication system behaviors, operational workflows, and activity diagrams to ensure reliable command, control, telemetry, payload, and mission data exchange
- Develop and integrate communication architectures including RF links, SATCOM, LOS/BLOS datalinks, networking infrastructure, antennas, encryption devices, and mission control interfaces
- Lead cross-functional integration between avionics, mission systems, networking, cybersecurity, software, and test teams to improve system interoperability and reduce integration risk
- Develop and validate interface definitions, network architectures, link budgets, and communication performance requirements for airborne and ground-based systems
- Support lab, field, and flight test activities to troubleshoot communication issues, validate network performance, and improve operational resiliency and mission readiness
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical field
- 5+ years of experience in communications systems, networking, mission systems, or military aerospace integration
- Experience with GCS architectures, datalinks, RF systems, networking, or airborne communication systems
- Familiarity with LOS/BLOS communications, SATCOM, IP networking, encryption technologies, and hardware/software integration environments
- Strong systems engineering, troubleshooting, and cross-functional communication skills
- Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience supporting UAV, fighter aircraft, autonomous systems, or military communication networks
- Experience defining operational behaviors, activity diagrams, CONOPS, or system architectures using MBSE tools such as Cameo Systems Modeler
- Background in integration labs, flight test, network resiliency, or tactical communication systems
- Familiarity with cybersecurity, RMF, resilient communications, and contested environment operations
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance preferred
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Frequently asked questions
What skills are required for Senior Staff Engineer, Communications Systems at Shield AI?
The required skills for Senior Staff Engineer, Communications Systems at Shield AI include: Cybersecurity.
What is the seniority level for Senior Staff Engineer, Communications Systems at Shield AI?
Senior Staff Engineer, Communications Systems at Shield AI is a Senior / Staff level position.
How do I apply for Senior Staff Engineer, Communications Systems at Shield AI?
You can view the full description and apply for Senior Staff Engineer, Communications Systems at Shield AI on EchoJobs: https://echojobs.io/job/shield-ai-senior-staff-engineer-gcs-communications-systems-r5020-0oc2s.