Mission Software Lead

Linuxconfig; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

North Vector Dynamics seeks a Mission Software Lead to own command and control, sensor and effector integration, and interfaces for CM-70 interoperability. The role will define architecture, standards, and practices to scale with launch architectures and will grow the mission software team.

This senior position requires guiding verification, collaborating with hardware teams, and ensuring safety standards for fielded defence systems while aligning with program goals.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in software with leadership of mission-critical or safety-critical teams.
• Experience building and growing a software organization, including hiring and mentoring.
• Architecture design for interoperable systems with third-party sensors and command systems.
• Strong C++ and Python with real-time, low-latency, distributed networking.
• Web UI experience (React) for mission planning/C2 visualization and video/telemetry streaming.
• Familiarity with SSH and remote debugging.
• Git, automated testing, CI/CD, and cross-OS debugging (Windows/Linux).
• Excellent written and verbal communication to align stakeholders around a roadmap.
• Eligibility for Government of Canada security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own mission software enabling CM-70 within a networked, multi-sensor defence system.
• Lead design and development of C2, sensor/effector integration, and engagement logic.
• Build and lead the mission software team across integration, C2, and planning.
• Align mission software with hardware design and verify against reliability and safety standards.
• Partner with Mission Systems Lead to ensure architecture scales with launch architectures.

Skills

Leadership

Software architecture

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

C++

Python

React

TCP/UDP networking

Git

CI/CD

Linux

Windows

Remote debugging

Multithreading

Job description

About the Role

North Vector Dynamics is building the mission software that enables the CM-70 interceptor to operate as part of a networked, multi-sensor air defence system. We are seeking a Mission Software Lead to own this function from the ground up: command and control, sensor and effector integration, and the interfaces that let CM-70 and its launch platforms interoperate with third-party sensors and systems, including standards such as SAPIENT. This is a senior software role at NVD and the successful candidate will be responsible for growing the mission software team and establishing the architecture, standards, and practices that will scale with the company. The successful candidate will work closely with the Mission Systems Lead and the broader engineering organization to ensure mission software keeps pace with NVD's growing family of launch architectures.

What You'll Do

• Own the mission software that enables CM-70 to detect, track, and engage threats as part of a networked, multi-sensor air defence system.
• Lead the design and development of command and control (C2) software, sensor and effector integration layers, and engagement sequencing logic.
• Build and lead the mission software team, managing software engineers working across command and control, integration, and mission planning.
• Partner closely with the Mission Systems Lead to align mission software with the electrical, mechanical, and mechatronic design of each launch architecture.
• Own software verification and validation practices, ensuring mission software meets the reliability and safety standards required for fielded defence systems.

What You Bring

Required

• 8+ years of software engineering experience, with a proven track record leading mission-critical or safety-critical software teams, ideally in defence, aerospace, or another highly regulated hardware-software environment.
• Proven experience building and leading a software organization, including hiring, mentoring, and establishing/maintaining engineering practices
• Experience defining software architecture for systems that must interoperate with third-party sensors, effectors, and external command systems.
• Strong experience with C++ and Python, including multithreaded/multiprocess design, real-time, low-latency systems, and TCP/IP or UDP networking across distributed processes.
• Experience with web-based UI (e.g., React) for mission planning/C2 visualization, and video or telemetry streaming (e.g., RTP/RTSP) from sensor feeds.
• Familiarity with SSH and remote debugging
• Strong engineering practices: Git version control, automated testing, CI/CD, and debugging across Windows and Linux.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to align engineering, program, and leadership stakeholders around a shared software roadmap.
• Eligibility for a Government of Canada security clearance.

Preferred

• Experience with counter-UAS, air defence, or missile guidance software systems.
• Background in command and control (C2) software, sensor fusion, or mission planning systems for defence or aerospace applications
• Demonstrated experience in computer vision, with a focus on object detection, tracking, and image-processing algorithms.
• Experience with sensor fusion, state estimation, and estimation techniques for dynamic systems.
• Experience with SAPIENT and other open sensor and effector interoperability standards
• Military background is a strong asset, we deeply value the operational context, mission focus, and technical discipline that veterans bring. Candidates with prior service in the Canadian Armed Forces or allied militaries, particularly in technical or avionics roles, are highly encouraged to apply.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.

Why North Vector Dynamics

• Real ownership from day one, the systems and processes you build will be foundational to how this company operates for years to come.
• We're working on technology that matters at a national and global level, and every person on the team feels that weight and that purpose.
• A tight-knit, high-calibre team that moves fast, holds each other to a high standard, and doesn't waste time on bureaucracy for its own sake.
• Competitive compensation and meaningful upside from joining an early-stage company at the forefront of the defence technology sector.
• On-site in Calgary, AB, a growing hub for tech and defence, with a culture built around resilience and getting things done.