Senior Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration

Responsibilities

• Develop and integrate autonomy software for unmanned air, maritime, space, ground, and effects/expendable platforms.
• Implement mission behaviors, platform-specific control, multi-agent coordination, contingencies, and executive autonomy.
• Own software validation from software-in-the-loop through hardware-in-the-loop, vehicle-in-the-loop, and live test exercises.
• Bring up payload computers; deploy containerized systems using tools such as k3s and k3d; configure onboard compute, sensors, and command-and-control interfaces.
• Set technical direction across multiple programs, establish reference implementations and common architecture patterns, and shape autonomy-stack evolution.
• Lead architecture reviews, design documentation, post-mortems, interface contracts, and cross-team process improvements.
• Coordinate pre-deployment builds, configuration, compatibility, mission readiness, and release cadence.
• Travel to test sites and support flight tests, range exercises, on-water trials, integration events, and live mission operations.
• Troubleshoot autonomy stacks, payload computers, embedded systems, memory, CPU, and timing performance in lab and field environments.
• Capture mission data, reproduce issues in simulation, and drive fixes into subsequent builds.
• Define C2 interoperability strategy and implement standards such as A-GRA, UCI, and OMS.
• Mentor senior engineers and team leads, shape hiring strategy, assess candidates, and support staffing plans.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Typically 10 years of related experience with a bachelor's degree, 9 years with a master's degree, or 7 years with a PhD, or equivalent experience.
• Proficiency in C++ and experience developing or integrating real-time or latency-sensitive systems.
• Proficiency in Linux-based development, embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics.
• Familiarity with middleware, publish-subscribe, or IPC frameworks used in autonomy and robotics, such as DDS and message buses.
• Hands-on experience supporting demonstrations, exercises, or field and mission tests for unmanned or autonomous systems.
• Experience with autonomy simulation environments for testing and validation.
• Experience leading multiple teams or cross-program technical initiatives from concept through fielded delivery.
• Experience setting technical strategy, shaping architecture decisions and standards, and solving ambiguous system-level problems.
• Experience mentoring senior engineers and team leads.
• Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, optimization, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

Nice-to-haves

• Direct experience supporting unmanned systems or comparable field-test campaigns.
• Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation, and analysis.
• Experience leading multiple programs or cross-program initiatives in an unmanned-systems context.
• Experience interfacing with customers and external stakeholders, representing an organization in technical engagements, briefing senior leadership, and presenting technical work.

Compensation

• Annual salary: $280,512–$420,768.