# Lead Software Engineer, Advanced Pilot Assistant Software

**Company:** [Beacon AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/beacon-ai)
**Location:** San Carlos, CA
**Role:** Embedded Engineering
**Salary:** $185k – $260k/yr
**Experience:** 5+ years
**Skills:** C++, Python, ROS, dds, Embedded Systems, autonomy, Robotics, Real-Time Systems, edge computing, sensor integration
**Posted:** 2026-07-20

> Lead the design and deployment of robotic, embedded, and autonomy software for advanced pilot assistance systems in safety-critical aviation environments. Own features end-to-end, integrate with hardware/sensors, optimize for edge compute, mentor engineers, and ensure reliability for time-sensitive operator decisions. Requires 5+ years in production robotics/embedded systems with C++/Python.

## Job Description

## What You’ll Do
- Design, build, and deploy robotic and embedded software that powers advanced pilot assistance systems in production environments.
- Own autonomy-related features or subsystems from concept through deployment, driving work from 0 to 1 with a strong focus on reliability and performance.
- Write, review, and maintain high-quality Python and C++ code across autonomy, systems, and embedded components.
- Integrate software with hardware, sensors, and perception or data ingestion pipelines to support autonomous and operator-in-the-loop decision-making.
- Optimize software for edge compute environments, managing CPU/GPU usage, latency, and implementing appropriate safety mechanisms and fail-safes.
- Lead testing, validation, and deployment efforts to ensure systems meet safety-critical and mission-critical requirements.
- Mentor engineers and contribute to technical direction through design reviews, code reviews, and hands-on collaboration.

## What Will Make You Successful
- 5+ years of experience designing and deploying robotic software and/or embedded systems in production environments.
- Strong software engineering skills in C++ and/or Python, with experience in systems-level or embedded programming.
- Experience building real-time or interactive systems that support users making time-sensitive decisions.
- Familiarity with autonomy-related systems such as planning, decision-making, or reasoning, and integrating with perception or sensor pipelines.
- Hands-on experience working with embedded or edge compute platforms and debugging hardware/software interactions.
- Proven ability to deliver complex systems end-to-end in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.

## Bonus Points
- Experience working on safety-critical or mission-critical systems, including aviation or robotics domains.
- Familiarity with robot operating systems or middleware such as ROS or DDS.
- Experience supporting human operators in the loop, simulation environments, or real-time control systems.
- Background in advanced mobility, autonomy, and robotics.

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