Avionics DO-330 Engineer Role – $110K–$145K at QDSS

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions, Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Certification assistance

401(k) match

Advancement opportunities

Job summary

Quest Defense Systems and Solutions, Inc. is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer focused on DO-330 tool qualification for airborne software in a remote US setting.

The role emphasizes safety-critical development, RTCA/DO-178 experience, and mentoring within a small team. You will collaborate with vendors, perform Run-For-Score tasks, and support regulatory reviews.

Remote work is available within the United States; U.S. citizenship is required due to defense work.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of relevant experience in Safety-Critical Software development/testing
• RTCA/DO-178 (or similar safety-critical) certification-based experience
• Knowledge in AGILE/Waterfall methods
• Knowledge of Operating Systems: Windows, Linux, LynxOS, etc.
• Experience with Tools/Processes: GitLab, SVN, Bamboo/Panda, Jira, JAMA, Confluence, DOORS, etc.

Responsibilities

• Work with software tool vendor(s) to set up target and host test environments
• Execute Run-For-Score
• Support tool qualification through internal TCR review and regulatory review

Skills

Safety-Critical

RTCA DO-178

AGILE

Operating Systems

Tools

GitLab

SVN

Bamboo/Panda

Jira

JAMA

Confluence

DOORS

RapiTest

RapiCover

Job description

Avionics DO-330 Engineer Role – $110K–$145K at QDSS — Remote

Location Remote

Company Quest Defense Systems & Solutions, Inc.

This is a specialized, niche role within embedded software engineering — focusing on DO-330 tool qualification for safety-critical avionics. Engineers with RTCA/DO-178 and DO-330 experience are in high demand and relatively rare, which makes this a strong career differentiator in aerospace and defense.

Compensation analysis: The $110K–$145K range is competitive for a mid-level embedded/safety-critical software engineer in the U.S. defense sector. Senior DO-178 specialists at primes (Raytheon, L3Harris, Boeing) often command $140K–$180K+, so the ceiling here is slightly below top-tier primes — but QDSS offers certification assistance and advancement paths that could bridge the gap.

• DO-330 tool qualification — an extremely niche, high-value certification skill
• DO-178C compliance lifecycle experience (a career-long asset in avionics)
• RapiTest/RapiCover tool expertise (industry-standard for avionics testing)
• Technical leadership and mentoring capabilities
• FAA/regulatory engagement experience

Green flags: QDSS has 25+ years in A&D, employer 401(k) match, and clear certification support — signals of an established, structured employer rather than an early-stage startup. The mentoring expectation indicates growth into a lead/principal trajectory.

Watch for: The posting doesn't mention PTO, health benefits, or flexible hours explicitly. Candidates should probe these in interviews. Defense project cycles can also mean periods of intense deadline pressure around regulatory reviews.

We're engineering the future of aerospace and defense. If you thrive on tackling complex challenges and delivering solutions where precision and reliability are non-negotiable, we want you on our team. Here, your expertise powers mission-critical systems that safeguard lives, advance technology, and push the boundaries of what's possible. Join us and bring your skills to work where innovation meets impact.

Quest Defense Systems and Solutions is actively hiring an Embedded Software Engineer – Tool Qualification to support airborne software tool qualification activities, including Run-For-Score execution and development of DO-330 qualification packages. This role supports internal and regulatory reviews to ensure compliance with RTCA/DO-178 certification standards while providing technical leadership and mentoring within the team.

Location: Remote within the United States

Citizenship: Due to the nature of the work, U.S. citizenship is required

In this Role, you will:

• Work with software tool vendor(s) to set up target and host test environments
• Execute Run-For-Score
• Support tool qualification through internal TCR review and regulatory review

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of relevant experience in Safety-Critical Software development/testing
• RTCA/DO-178 (or similar safety-critical) certification-based experience
• Knowledge in AGILE/Waterfall methods
• Knowledge of Operating Systems: Windows, Linux, LynxOS, etc.
• Experience with Tools/Processes: GitLab, SVN, Bamboo/Panda, Jira, JAMA, Confluence, DOORS, etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with DO-330 tool qualification, preferably with RapiTest and/or RapiCover
• Experience leading and deploying program strategies & initiatives
• Experience mentoring junior members within a team

The QDSS Advantage:

At QDSS, our advantage is purpose-driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact. You'll grow your career while contributing to mission-critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future.

What You'll Find Here

• Work That Matters – Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact.
• Growth That's Supported – Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certification assistance, and clear opportunities for advancement.

Full compensation package is based on candidate experience and certifications.

Pay Range: $110,000 – $145,000 USD

At Quest Defense Systems and Solutions, we don't just build technology — we engineer the future. From next-generation aerospace solutions to cutting-edge defense systems, we tackle the toughest, mission-critical challenges that keep people safe and push the boundaries of innovation. With over 25 years of aerospace and defense engineering expertise, our commitment to delivering high-quality, transformative solutions sets us apart — not just as an industry leader, but as a driving force for impactful change.

Quest Defense provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Is this role truly fully remote or are there on-site requirements? The job is listed as remote within the United States, meaning you can work from home or anywhere in the U.S. However, working from outside the United States is not permitted, and U.S. citizenship is required due to the nature of defense work. What is the salary range for this Embedded Software Engineer position? The annual pay range is $110,000 to $145,000 USD, with the final offer based on candidate experience and certifications. Do I need prior DO-330 experience to apply? DO-330 tool qualification experience is listed as a preferred (not required) qualification. The required baseline is 2+ years of safety-critical software development/testing and RTCA/DO-178 certification experience. Is U.S. citizenship mandatory for this role? Yes, U.S. citizenship is required due to the nature of the aerospace and defense work, which likely involves ITAR-controlled programs. What tools and technologies will I work with in this role? You'll work with tools such as GitLab, SVN, Jira, JAMA, Confluence, and DOORS, alongside programming languages including C/C++, Python, and Ada 95, and potentially RapiTest and RapiCover for DO-330 tool qualification.

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