Staff Engineer, Operations Analyst (R5807)
Shield AI · Washington
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Production
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior production role at Shield AI (aerospace & defense) in Washington.
- They ask for
- 7+ years
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Washington: typical posted base $120k–$175k.
Median of the low and high ends of 19 live postings that list pay, out of 31 production engineer openings in Washington, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Washington plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 30 other live production postings in Washington.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 5+)
Typical $120k–$175k, from 18 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Python 39%
- Root cause 29%
- Team leadership 26%
- Lean 26%
- New product launch 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Shield AI
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from Shield AIAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What You'll Do
- ◆Develop and execute operational analysis strategies to assess the effectiveness of autonomous aircraft in real-world military scenarios.
- ◆Lead modeling, simulation, and wargaming efforts to evaluate system performance, mission impact, and survivability in contested environments.
- ◆Work closely with engineering teams and product managers to translate operational insights into design decisions and system improvements.
- ◆Conduct trade studies and sensitivity analyses to assess system performance under varying operational conditions and threats.
- ◆Utilize advanced modeling & simulation tools (e.g., AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, Python) to develop high-fidelity mission models.
- ◆Analyze force-on-force engagements, sensor effectiveness, and autonomy-driven decision-making to optimize mission success.
- ◆Collaborate with DoD stakeholders, operators, and warfighters to understand mission needs and align system capabilities with operational requirements.
- ◆Support concept of operations (CONOPS) development for new AI-driven aircraft capabilities.
- ◆Identify emerging threats and operational challenges, ensuring Shield AI’s systems remain ahead of adversary capabilities.
- ◆Develop and present technical reports, briefings, and recommendations to senior leadership, customers, and government agencies.
- ◆Leverage modern compute and development best practices (e.g., scalable cloud/HPC workflows, containerization, version control, CI/CD, and automated testing) to build, run, and iterate high-fidelity simulation and analysis pipelines quickly and reliably.
Required Qualifications
- ✓7+ years of experience in operational analysis, modeling & simulation (M&S), or military operations research.
- ✓Expertise in military mission analysis, operational planning, and wargaming methodologies.
- ✓Proficiency with AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, or other M&S tools used for aerospace and defense applications.
- ✓Deep understanding of air combat, ISR, electronic warfare, or autonomous systems in contested environments.
- ✓Experience working with DoD stakeholders, warfighters, and government agencies to align capabilities with mission requirements.
- ✓Demonstrated ability to seamlessly apply modern compute, data science, and software development best practices (e.g., cloud/HPC workflows, containerization, Git-based version control, CI/CD, automated testing, and reproducible analysis) to build and maintain reliable simulations and analytics.
- ✓Excellent communication and briefing skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership, customers, and military personnel.
- ✓Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile development environment with shifting priorities.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Prior experience in force-on-force analysis, CONOPS development, or military campaign modeling.
- ✓Familiarity with DoD acquisition processes, Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), and military operational testing.
- ✓Experience integrating AI-driven decision-making algorithms into operational analysis frameworks.
- ✓Prior military service or experience working with U.S. Air Force, Navy, or Special Operations Forces.
- ✓Experience using GenAI to structure problems and create simulation or analysis tools.
- ✓Active Secret or Top-Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one).
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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.
Job Description
We are seeking a Staff Engineer, Operational Analyst to drive the modeling, simulation, and analysis of Shield AI’s autonomous aircraft systems. This role is pivotal in evaluating the mission effectiveness, survivability, and operational impact of our autonomy solutions across multiple platforms and domains. You will work closely with engineering, product development, and defense stakeholders to inform design trade-offs, assess system performance, and optimize mission capabilities.
This position requires a deep understanding of military operations, wargaming, modeling & simulation (M&S), analytic techniques, and operational analysis techniques. Your work will directly shape Shield AI’s strategy by identifying how our AI-powered platforms can best serve the evolving needs of modern warfare.