Autonomy Capabilities Engineer

Autonomy Capabilities Engineer

San Diego, CA

Type: Contract

Category: Engineer

Industry: Technology

Standard Hours: Open

Reference ID: JN -102026-108913

Date Posted: 11/03/2026

Shortcut: http://careers.eliassen.com/1OmVDS

• Description
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Description:

On-site in either San Diego, CA or Washington, DC or Boston, MA or San Mateo, CA

Our client seeks an autonomy capabilities engineer to design and integrate tactical autonomy for unmanned systems across air, land, and sea domains. The role spans control laws, motion planning, multi-agent behaviors, and real-world software integration. You will deliver performant C++/Python modules, validate in simulation and flight demos, and collaborate across perception, planning, simulation, hardware, and flight test. You will analyze mission data, support defense-focused programs, and contribute to the autonomy roadmap blending classical techniques with optimization and learning methods.

Due to client requirements, applicants must be willing and able to work on a w2 basis. For our w2 consultants, we offer a great benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits, 401k with company matching, and life insurance.

Rate: $70.00 to $120.00/hr. w2

JN -102026-108913

Responsibilities:

• Design tactical autonomy algorithms enabling unmanned aircraft to execute complex missions with minimal supervision.
• Develop high-performance software modules for planning, decision-making, and behavior execution in dynamic, adversarial environments.
• Implement behavior architectures for multi-agent coordination, target engagement, reconnaissance, and survivability.
• Integrate classical autonomy with learning-based methods such as reinforcement learning.
• Collaborate with perception, planning, simulation, hardware, and flight test teams for seamless platform integration.
• Deploy autonomy capabilities to real platforms and participate in field tests and flight demos.
• Analyze mission logs and performance data to diagnose issues and optimize behavior models.
• Research and prototype new algorithms and contribute to capability roadmaps.
• Support defense-focused programs and adapt solutions to evolving mission and compliance needs.
• Travel approximately 10–15% to offices, customer sites, and integration events.

Experience Requirements:

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering, or similar, or equivalent experience.
• Typically 10+ years with a Bachelor’s, 9+ with a Master’s, or 7+ with a PhD, or equivalent work experience.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python; familiarity with RTOS.
• Background in robotics for motion planning, behavior modeling, decision-making, or autonomous system design.
• Experience with unmanned systems and air-domain autonomy algorithms.
• Experience with AFSIM and NGTS or similar simulation environments.
• Strong troubleshooting and performance optimization skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration in multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.
• Preferred: ML/RL in autonomy pipelines, collaborative behaviors or swarm robotics, DoD tactical behaviors, cross-domain behaviors, flight demos or live exercises, and familiarity with UCI and OMS standards.

Education Requirements:

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or similar, or equivalent practical experience.

Recruitment Transparency Notice

Eliassen Group values transparency in our recruitment practices. Please be advised that Eliassen Group utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) tools as part of its initial application screening and hiring process. You may receive email and SMS notifications from the Eliassen Virtual Recruiting Team ( noreply@eliassen.com , 781-808-2924) inviting you to complete a brief voice screening as part of your application process. These tools assist our hiring teams in different ways, including but not limited to, assistance in reviewing application materials to help identify candidates whose qualifications most closely match the requirements of the position. All AI-assisted evaluations and responses are reviewed by human recruiters before any hiring decisions are made. The use of AI in our process is intended to support fairness, efficiency, and consistency, and Eliassen Group takes measures to prevent bias or discrimination in connection with its hiring practices. By proceeding, you acknowledge, agree, and consent to Eliassen Group’s use of these tools, including AI tools, as part of the application and hiring process.

Skills, experience, and other compensable factors will be considered when determining pay rate. The pay range provided in this posting reflects a W2 hourly rate; other employment options may be available that may result in pay outside of the provided range.

W2 employees of Eliassen Group who are regularly scheduled to work 30 or more hours per week are eligible for the following benefits: medical (choice of 3 plans), dental, vision, pre-tax accounts, other voluntary benefits including life and disability insurance, 401(k) with match, and sick time if required by law in the worked-in state/locality.

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· When you work with Eliassen Group, all email communication will come from an Eliassen.com address, never Gmail, Yahoo, etc.

· Eliassen Group will never ask you for personal information (home address, bank account, or check routing number) until you have worked with someone clearly associated with Eliassen Group.

If you have any indication of fraudulent activity, please contact fraud@eliassen.com .

About Eliassen Group:

Eliassen Group is a strategic consulting firm that helps organizations reach further and achieve more through our technology, business advisory, and life sciences solutions. For nearly 40 years, we have combined exceptional people, deep domain expertise, and intelligent capabilities to expand our clients’ capacity and accelerate meaningful outcomes. We are driven by a purpose to positively impact the lives of our employees, clients, consultants, and the communities we serve.

Eliassen is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and all employment decisions are based on merit, performance, and business needs. Eliassen does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity or expression, sexual preference or orientation, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), marital status, creed, religion, physical or mental disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, age, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, prohibited criminal record inquiries of applicants and employees, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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