Senior Real-Time Simulation Engineer in Melbourne

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.

As a Senior Engineer in Modelling and Simulation, you will lead the development, integration, and operationalisation of simulation capabilities that enable Hivemind Mission Autonomy programs in Australia. You will architect, implement, and maintain high-performance, real-time and faster-than-real-time simulation environments used by autonomy, perception, and systems engineering teams to design, test, and demonstrate cutting-edge uncrewed aircraft mission autonomy. This role involves significant technical leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and delivery of complex simulation frameworks that support both customer programs and internal R&D. You will directly contribute to scalable, operationally representative simulation ecosystems that underpin mission-critical software development.

What you'll do:

• Support the design and evolution of distributed real-time simulation systems across virtual, constructive and live environments.
• Implement high performance C++ software for modelling, simulation, integration workflows and system interoperability, including compatibility with legacy standards.
• Develop and optimise real-time and distributed simulation software supporting multi-agent scenarios and high fidelity environments.
• Integrate defence simulation frameworks such as AFSIM or NGTS to support delivery and ensure alignment with defence customer expectations.
• Design and deliver containerised simulation deployments using technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes for development, CI, testing and operational environments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to connect simulation with autonomy algorithms, hardware interfaces and automated test pipelines.
• Drive improvement across CI/CD, test driven development, software architecture and simulation tooling.
• Support key customer programs by delivering reliable and scalable simulation environments.

Required qualifications:

• Tertiary qualification in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mechatronics or a related field.
• Professional experience in software engineering and systems integration.
• Strong experience with modern C++ and familiarity with legacy C++ standards.
• Professional experience with Python.
• Demonstrated success delivering reliable software in fast-paced engineering environments.
• Experience with real-time or distributed simulation systems.
• Experience with Docker or similar containerisation technologies.
• Proficiency working in Linux development environments.
• Strong problem-solving capability and the ability to work through complex technical challenges.
• Strong history of collaboration, accountability and being an effective team member.
• Ability to obtain an Australian security clearance.

Preferred qualifications:

• Defence industry experience.
• Experience with uncrewed systems, particularly in the air domain.
• Experience with data processing, analysis pipelines or test automation workflows (especially Python based).

Eligibility:

Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems, and this role supports that mission directly by working with Australian Government classified material. It requires an Australian Government security clearance. You don't need to hold a clearance already, we will sponsor your clearance and support you, because mission first, people always. Australian citizenship is a mandatory requirement for this role. It is a condition of clearance eligibility set by the Australian Government.

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.

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, colour, 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.