Principal Systems Engineer, Cyber (R3683) at Shield AI

California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Defense, Aerospace, Autonomous SystemsIndustries

Requirements

10+ years in cybersecurity engineering or architecture
Strong knowledge of modern cryptography, secure systems design, and authentication protocols
Experience designing secure architectures for distributed, embedded, or autonomy-related systems
Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, static analysis, container security, and SBOM practices
Proven ability to lead security initiatives across software and infrastructure teams
Experience with risk assessment methodologies and adversarial modeling
Preferred qualifications:
Strong programming and review skills in C++, Python, Go, and Typescript
Experience in defense, aerospace, or critical infrastructure environments
Knowledge of security certification processes (e.g., RMF)

Responsibilities

Define and evolve the security architecture across embedded, edge, and cloud components of Shield AI’s autonomy stack
Drive adoption of secure software development practices, including threat modeling, secure code review standards, and automated static/dynamic analysis tooling
Lead the design of cryptographic protocols, identity and access management systems, secure communication layers, and key management infrastructure
Conduct architecture risk assessments and influence design decisions to minimize attack surfaces and improve defense-in-depth
Collaborate with infrastructure, autonomy, and mission software teams to define policies for software update security, telemetry handling, and secure provisioning
Partner with compliance and certification teams to align systems with NIST, FedRAMP, and/or DoD cybersecurity frameworks
Serve as a technical point of contact for external security assessments, penetration testing, and red team exercises

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Threat ModelingSecure Code ReviewStatic AnalysisDynamic AnalysisCryptographic ProtocolsIdentity and Access ManagementKey ManagementCloud SecurityEmbedded SecurityArchitecture Risk Assessment

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary for this Principal Systems Engineer role?

This information is not specified in the job description.

Is this position remote or does it require working from an office?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What key skills are required for the Cybersecurity Architect role?

The role requires expertise in designing secure architectures, threat modeling, cryptographic protocols, identity and access management, secure communication, and aligning with NIST, FedRAMP, and DoD frameworks.

What is the company culture like at Shield AI?

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems, featuring cross-functional collaboration across engineering, product, infrastructure, and compliance teams in a highly technical environment.

What makes a strong candidate for this Principal Systems Engineer position?

Strong candidates will have hands-on leadership experience in embedding security into software development lifecycles, designing resilient architectures for embedded, edge, and cloud systems, and experience with defense-related cybersecurity frameworks.

Shield AI

Develops AI and autonomous systems for defense

About Shield AI

Shield AI specializes in creating artificial intelligence and autonomous systems specifically for the defense industry. The company develops AI-powered systems, including autonomous drones, that assist military operations, especially in environments where GPS and communication may not be available. This technology allows for safer and more efficient defense operations. Shield AI differentiates itself from competitors by focusing on advanced AI capabilities and securing significant contracts with government and military clients, such as the multi-billion dollar EWAAC contract. The company's goal is to enhance operational capabilities and safety in military contexts, ultimately aiming to protect lives through its innovative solutions.

San Diego, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2015Year Founded

$772.8MTotal Funding

DEBTCompany Stage

AI & Machine Learning, DefenseIndustries

501-1,000Employees