Senior Staff Systems Security Engineer, Program Protection (TX/DC/Sea) (R6515)
The full posting
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai . Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn , X , Instagram , and YouTube .
Comp band reflects min for standard range and max for Seattle range.
Job Description
Shield AI is seeking a Senior Staff Systems Security Engineer specializing in Program Protection, Anti-Tamper (AT), and Critical Program Information (CPI) to support the development of next-generation autonomous military aircraft and associated mission systems.
This role will lead the identification and protection of critical technologies through CPI assessments, threat and vulnerability analysis, protection architecture development, and anti-tamper engineering. The engineer will leverage established DoD program protection guidance and engineering frameworks to translate protection objectives into actionable system requirements, evaluate design alternatives, and drive protection measures through implementation and verification.
Working within Systems Engineering & Integrated Test (SEIT), this individual will collaborate with systems engineering, platform engineering, hardware, software, cybersecurity, and Government stakeholders to integrate program protection throughout system development, integration, testing, and fielding.
What You'll Do
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- Program Protection & CPI: Lead CPI identification, criticality assessments, and technical protection strategies utilizing the DoD CPI Horizontal Protection Guide (HPG), including evaluation of organic and inherited CPI and horizontal protection considerations.
- Anti-Tamper Engineering: Lead anti-tamper engineering activities in accordance with the DoD Anti-Tamper Engineering Framework (ATEF), including threat and exploitation analysis, protection requirements, architecture development, design trade studies, and implementation planning.
- Systems Engineering: Define and decompose program protection and anti-tamper requirements into system, subsystem, hardware, and software requirements while maintaining traceability through design implementation and verification.
- Architecture & Integration: Collaborate with systems and platform engineering teams to integrate protection measures across aircraft, mission systems, embedded computing, ground control systems, and supporting equipment.
- Technical Planning: Lead technical development of CPI assessments, Program Protection Implementation Plans (PPIP), Anti-Tamper Plans, protection trade studies, and associated engineering documentation.
- Risk & Trade Analysis: Evaluate protection alternatives based on technical effectiveness, implementation feasibility, cost, system performance, integration complexity, and residual risk.
- Verification & Validation: Develop protection verification criteria and support laboratory evaluations, integration testing, and assessments to demonstrate the effectiveness of implemented protection measures.
- Technical Leadership: Provide subject-matter expertise during SRR, PDR, CDR, and other engineering milestones. Coordinate with Government program protection authorities, suppliers, and internal engineering teams to resolve technical risks and mature protection designs.
Required Qualifications
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- Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field.
- 10+ years of relevant engineering experience in aerospace, defense, embedded systems, systems security engineering, or mission-critical technologies.
- Demonstrated experience in program protection, anti-tamper engineering, critical technology protection, or related systems security engineering disciplines.
- Experience developing system security architectures, technical requirements, engineering design artifacts, and protection implementation approaches.
- Experience with CPI assessments, threat modeling, vulnerability analysis, exploitation risk assessments, or protection trade studies.
- Strong understanding of hardware, firmware, embedded software, and system integration considerations associated with protecting critical technologies.
- protecting critical technologies.
- Experience with systems engineering processes, requirements decomposition, technical risk management, and verification activities.
- Strong technical leadership, analytical, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance and required program access.
Preferred Qualifications
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- Direct experience designing, implementing, or verifying anti-tamper protections for military aircraft, weapon systems, autonomous platforms, or embedded mission systems.
- Experience applying the DoD Anti-Tamper Engineering Framework (ATEF) and CPI Horizontal Protection Guide (HPG) to program protection assessments, engineering design, and technical implementation.
- Experience developing Program Protection Plans, Program Protection Implementation Plans, Anti-Tamper Plans, or CPI assessments for DoD programs.
- Familiarity with DoDI 5200.39, DoDD 5200.47E, DoDI 5200.44, NIST SP 800-160, and applicable DoD program protection and systems security engineering guidance.
- Experience with embedded protection technologies, including secure boot, hardware roots of trust, tamper detection and response, secure storage, software protection, and hardware or firmware assurance.
- Experience working with microelectronics, FPGAs, mission computers, or other critical embedded technologies.
- Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE), SysML, Cameo Systems Modeler, DOORS, and requirements traceability.
- Understanding of supply chain risk management, trusted systems, defense exportability, and technology release considerations.
- Experience coordinating with Government program protection organizations, anti-tamper authorities, and defense industry partners.
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance; SAP eligibility or prior SAP experience preferred.
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#LE
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.
Text as Shield AI published it; last compared with the original on 11 Nov 2026.
The application
Your details and CV, then 24 questions (10 written).
- 1.OtherShort answer · optional
- 2.Are you authorized to work in the United States?Yes or no
- 3.Will you require sponsorship for employment now or in the future?Yes or no
- 4.If yes, what type of sponsorship?Written answer · optional
- 5.This position may require access to information and technology that is subject to export controls, such as EAR. Are you any of the following?Pick one: A United States Citizen · A lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Greencard holder) · A protected individual · Other
- 6.If you selected "A protected Individual" OR "Other" to the above question, please explain further.Written answer · optional
- 7.Shield AI provides technology, services, and support to the United States military and allied forces with their various missions. If selected for employment with Shield AI, your contributions will directly relate to and/or support these misPick one: Yes · No · Other
- 8.(Optional) If you selected other or would like to expand on the above, feel free to do so below:Written answer · optional
- 9.If "Industry Conference" or "Other," please provide more details:Written answer · optional
- 10.Please state your full legal name:Short answer
- 11.Are you a transitioning service member?Yes or no
- 12.If yes, what partnership program are you working with?Pick one: Hiring our Heroes · NextOp · Skillbridge general (no program) · optional
- 13.If other, please provide further detailsWritten answer · optional
- 14.When are you available to start your fellowship?Written answer · optional
- 15.When are you available for full time work?Written answer · optional
- 16.What full time job(s) are you applying for?Written answer
- 17.Are you local to or willing to relocate?Yes or no
- 18.What office(s) would you be willing to relocate to? (Select all that apply)Pick any (7 options) · optional
- 19.If you selected international, what location(s)?Written answer · optional
- 20.Do you have, or are you able to obtain, a S/SAR clearance?Pick one: Yes · No · Unsure · optional
- 21.What languages are you fluent in?Pick one (8 options) · optional
- 22.RelocationYes or no
- 23.Office(s) to Relocate ToPick any (7 options) · optional
- 24.What location to relocate to (If International)Written answer · optional
Taken from Shield AI's application form as it stood on 11 Nov 2026.
The employer: Shield AI
Shield AI builds the Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft for militaries; security engineers harden those systems and the company's enterprise.
Pay and benefits: Employee roles at a venture-backed maker of autonomous military aircraft.
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