Staff Engineer, Data Platform

Shield AI
San Diego
Workplace: OnsiteFull timeUSD 150,000 - 230,000 annuallyFunction: Software EngineeringSkills: ["Technical communication","Collaboration","Hands-on technical leadership","System reliability focus","Problem-solving"]

Build and lead the data foundation for an AI Factory by designing a knowledge-graph-centered Graph API and multi-modal API layer. Own DataOps infrastructure across storage, indexing, query, ingestion, and compute, establishing durable data modeling patterns, lineage, and schema evolution. Create agentic data access for trusted, explainable context, deliver first-party integrations, and set operational quality through observability, reliability, security, and lifecycle management.

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FursaFursa
Shield AI
Shield AI
1 day ago

Staff Engineer, Data Platform

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Canonical indexed version, validated from employer's careers page.

Source: Company careers pageValidated by: Fursa AI
Last checked: 13 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Build and lead the data foundation for an AI Factory by designing a knowledge-graph-centered Graph API and multi-modal API layer. Own DataOps infrastructure across storage, indexing, query, ingestion, and compute, establishing durable data modeling patterns, lineage, and schema evolution. Create agentic data access for trusted, explainable context, deliver first-party integrations, and set operational quality through observability, reliability, security, and lifecycle management.
Location: San Diego
Workplace: Onsite
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Software Engineering
Seniority: Mid level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Lead the architecture and implementation of a knowledge-graph-centered Graph API and multi-modal API layer for human and agentic workflows.
  • •Research, optimize, and maintain DataOps infrastructure across storage, indexing, query, ingestion, and compute throughout the data lifecycle.
  • •Establish best-practice patterns for schema modeling, relationships, lineage, and schema evolution.
  • •Build agentic data access APIs to provide structured, connected, and explainable context for downstream agents.
  • •Develop reference architectures and integrations, improve developer experience with self-service APIs/SDKs/tools, and drive observability, reliability, security, data integrity, and disaster recovery expectations.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 150,000 - 230,000 annually
Equity and Bonus:Equity

Key Requirements

  • •Significant experience designing and operating distributed data solutions, storage systems, or data-intensive backend services.
  • •Strong software engineering skills delivering production systems, including in Go and Python.
  • •Deep understanding of data modeling and API design, including schema evolution, identity, consistency, indexing, query planning, and data lifecycle.
  • •Experience across multiple storage modalities (relational/graph, object storage, analytical/columnar, file storage) and reliable ingestion/access for high-volume data.
  • •Strong knowledge of Kubernetes, Linux, networking, security, storage, observability, and distributed-systems fundamentals.
Experience:Data platformsDistributed systemsAI/robotics domain
Skills:Technical communicationCollaborationHands-on technical leadershipSystem reliability focusProblem-solving
Tech Stack:GoPythonKubernetesLinuxS3-compatibleApache ArrowParquetOpenAPIAsyncAPIWebSocketsTerraformHelmGitOpsRayKafkaNATSRedpanda

Company Brief

Shield AI
Develops AI-powered autonomy and software for military aircraft and drones to enable autonomous ISR and combat missions, integrating perception, navigation, and mission planning for defense customers.
Industry: Defense Technology
Company Size: Large (251 to 1,000 employees)
Growth: Scaleup
Funding: Series E+
Headquarters: San Diego, United States
Founded: 2015
WebsiteLinkedIn