Staff Engineer, Software - Autonomous Aircraft Integration (R4983)

Job Description

Flight Integration Engineer -- Autonomy

Position Summary

The Flight Integration Engineer is responsible for deploying advanced autonomy solutions onto unmanned platforms and ensuring those systems perform reliably in real-world flight environments.

This role sits at the intersection of **hardware, software, autonomy, and systems engineering**, bridging the gap between R\&D and operational deployment. The engineer will integrate autonomy software with onboard compute, sensors, avionics, and control systems; prepare platforms for flight; support live testing; and troubleshoot mission-critical issues in both laboratory and field environments.

This is a highly hands-on position suited for an engineer who enjoys complex system integration, rapid problem-solving, and working directly with unmanned aircraft.

Key Responsibilities

* **Autonomy System Integration:** Integrate autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft, ensuring reliable operation across onboard compute, sensors, control interfaces, and supporting hardware.
* **Flight System Preparation:** Own system build, configuration, integration, and validation activities required to prepare platforms for flight.
* **Hardware/Software Integration:** Ensure compatibility between autonomy software, embedded hardware, sensors, avionics, and other platform systems.
* **Flight Test Support:** Travel to test locations and support live flight operations, including system bring-up, safety checks, mission preparation, and real-time troubleshooting.
* **System Troubleshooting:** Diagnose and resolve complex hardware, software, networking, embedded-system, and autonomy-stack integration issues in laboratory and field environments.
* **Flight Data \& Analysis:** Manage mission data collection and post-flight analysis, partnering with autonomy engineers to identify performance issues and improve system behavior.
* **Cross-Functional Engineering:** Collaborate with autonomy, Guidance, Navigation \& Control (GNC), systems engineering, hardware, and test teams to deliver and validate mission-critical capabilities.
* **Integration Tools \& Automation:** Develop tools, automation, and processes that improve system testing, deployment timelines, data collection, and flight-test reliability.
* **Certification \& Compliance:** Support documentation and system-level validation activities related to airworthiness, certification, and defense requirements.
* **Continuous Improvement:** Identify opportunities to improve integration processes, system reliability, and overall deployment efficiency.

Required Qualifications

* BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent practical experience may also be considered.
* Typically **7+ years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree, 5+ years with a Master's degree, or 4+ years with a PhD**, or equivalent professional experience.
* Strong programming skills in **C++ and Python**.
* Familiarity with **real-time operating systems (RTOS)**.
* Strong experience working in **Linux-based development environments**.
* Experience with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics.
* Knowledge of **sensor integration and sensor fusion**.
* Experience with middleware frameworks such as **ROS and/or DDS**.
* Hands-on experience supporting **flight demonstrations or live exercises**.
* Experience with simulation and validation environments such as **AFSIM and/or NGTS**.
* Strong systems-level troubleshooting and performance optimization skills.
* Strong communication and teamwork skills with the ability to operate effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
* Ability to obtain a **U.S. Secret security clearance**.

Preferred Qualifications

* Direct experience with **unmanned aerial systems (UAS)** or similar flight-test programs.
* Familiarity with **autonomy stacks, flight-control systems, and/or GNC pipelines**.
* Experience with sensor integration, electronics troubleshooting, avionics integration, or system bring-up.
* Experience developing automation tools for system testing, logging, diagnostics, and data parsing.
* Experience working directly with DoD customers or stakeholders during field events, demonstrations, or technical reviews.
* Experience with **UCI and OMS standards**.

Travel

Approximately **30--40% travel** is expected to support customer sites, flight-test locations, other company facilities, and integration events.

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