Staff Software Engineer, Autonomous Pilot Integration – Expeditionary (R5208)

In this role, you'll lead the technical delivery of complex autonomy capabilities for V-BAT and X-BAT unmanned aircraft, spanning platform integration, mission autonomy, and operational deployment. You'll own challenging technical problems, influence technical direction across multiple subsystems, and partner closely with aircraft, autonomy, perception, and customer teams. You'll drive integration from architecture through field deployment, mentor engineers, and improve engineering practices across the Expeditionary portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead Technical Delivery – Lead the technical execution of complex autonomy capabilities from architecture through field deployment, coordinating work across multiple engineering teams.
• Develop & Field Autonomy – Drive integration of mission autonomy, payloads, flight-control interfaces, executive autonomy, and multi-agent behaviors onto V-BAT and X-BAT.
• Aircraft Team Partnership – Serve as a primary technical partner to the Aircraft team, defining integration approaches, resolving interface issues, and ensuring mission readiness.
• Cross-Team Technical Leadership – Partner across Aircraft, Autonomy Capabilities, Perception, GCS, Strategic Systems (ACP), and feature crews to solve complex systems integration challenges.
• Systems Architecture & Integration – Influence architecture, interface design, and integration strategy across multiple subsystems.
• Design & Engineering Excellence – Lead design reviews, contribute to ICDs, mentor engineers, and improve engineering rigor.
• Mission Readiness & Field Support – Drive release readiness while supporting flight tests, customer demonstrations, and operational deployments.
• Continuous Improvement – Improve integration workflows, testing infrastructure, and engineering productivity.
• C2 Interoperability & Standards – Drive implementation of GCS and C2 interfaces using common open-systems standards.
• Travel Requirement – Members of this team typically travel around 10–20% of the year to different office locations, customer sites, operator training events, flight tests, and integration exercises.

Requirements

• BS/MS in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Expert C++ and Linux development experience.
• Experience leading complex autonomy or embedded software integration efforts.
• Experience influencing technical direction across multiple engineering teams.
• Experience supporting operational test events or customer deployments.
• Ability to obtain a SECRET clearance.

Nice to have

• Experience with Group 3 UAS or VTOL aircraft.
• Experience with custom autopilot integration.
• EO/IR or ViDAR integration.
• Long-endurance ISR missions.
• Docker, ARM embedded systems, and CI/CD experience.
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical initiatives.

Benefits

• Full-time regular employee offer package:
• Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
• Temporary employee offer package:
• Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
• 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. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.