Flight Software & Embedded Systems Engineer

Approach Venture; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Unknown is seeking a Senior Flight Software Engineer to lead embedded flight software development for next-generation unmanned aircraft. You will work across autopilot frameworks, avionics integration, and flight testing to optimize performance and reliability.

The role demands deep expertise in C/C++, embedded Linux/RTOS, and hands-on aircraft testing, with a pathway to influence architecture and software quality across multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience developing embedded software or flight software.
• Direct experience developing, modifying, or integrating PX4 or ArduPilot on unmanned aircraft platforms.
• Strong programming experience using modern C and C++.
• Experience developing software for embedded Linux or real-time embedded systems.
• Experience integrating avionics hardware including IMUs, GPS receivers, radios, sensors, companion computers, and electronic speed controllers.
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, and MAVLink.
• Experience using Git and modern software development workflows.
• Comfortable supporting hardware integration and aircraft flight testing.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across software, embedded hardware, and aircraft systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain embedded flight software for autonomous fixed-wing aircraft using modern autopilot frameworks such as PX4 or ArduPilot.
• Design and implement new flight capabilities, mission behaviors, navigation features, and aircraft control logic.
• Develop embedded firmware for custom avionics, onboard electronics, and flight-critical hardware using C and C++.
• Integrate flight controllers, companion computers, GPS receivers, radios, sensors, ESCs, payloads, and other aircraft subsystems.
• Develop software interfaces supporting communication between avionics, mission computers, payload systems, and ground control stations.
• Support aircraft integration, ground testing, and flight test campaigns by troubleshooting software and hardware issues.
• Analyze flight logs and telemetry to improve vehicle performance, stability, reliability, and autonomous operation.
• Develop and maintain Software-in-the-Loop (SITL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) test environments to validate software before flight.
• Collaborate closely with systems, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and flight test engineers throughout product development.
• Participate in software architecture discussions, code reviews, debugging efforts, and continuous improvement of development processes.

Skills

Embedded software

C++ programming

PX4/ArduPilot

Git workflows

RTOS development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer/Electrical/CS/Aerospace Engineering or related

Tools

Embedded Linux

CAN/UART/SPI/I2C

Job description

Flight Software and Embedded Systems Engineer - Build Flight Software for Next-Generation Autonomous Aircraft
Fort Worth, Texas | On-site

Opportunity Summary
Join a rapidly growing aerospace and defense company developing advanced unmanned aircraft systems designed for demanding operational environments. The engineering team owns the complete product lifecycle, from aircraft design and embedded electronics through manufacturing, flight testing, and production. Engineers work closely together across software, hardware, avionics, and flight operations to rapidly develop, validate, and deploy new capabilities. As a Senior Flight Software Engineer, you will lead development of the embedded flight software that controls the aircraft. This role combines flight control software, embedded firmware, avionics integration, and hands-on aircraft testing. You\'ll customize and extend modern autopilot architectures, integrate new hardware, support flight testing, and solve complex software and hardware challenges that directly impact aircraft performance and reliability.

About Us
We are an engineering-focused aerospace company building next-generation unmanned aircraft for defense and commercial applications. Operating in a fast-paced development environment, our team designs complete aircraft systems in-house and moves quickly from concept to flight. Every engineer has the opportunity to influence product direction while working on technology that transitions rapidly into operational use.

Job Duties

• Develop and maintain embedded flight software for autonomous fixed-wing aircraft using modern autopilot frameworks such as PX4 or ArduPilot.
• Design and implement new flight capabilities, mission behaviors, navigation features, and aircraft control logic.
• Develop embedded firmware for custom avionics, onboard electronics, and flight-critical hardware using C and C++.
• Integrate flight controllers, companion computers, GPS receivers, radios, sensors, ESCs, payloads, and other aircraft subsystems.
• Develop software interfaces supporting communication between avionics, mission computers, payload systems, and ground control stations.
• Support aircraft integration, ground testing, and flight test campaigns by troubleshooting software and hardware issues.
• Analyze flight logs and telemetry to improve vehicle performance, stability, reliability, and autonomous operation.
• Develop and maintain Software-in-the-Loop (SITL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) test environments to validate software before flight.
• Collaborate closely with systems, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and flight test engineers throughout product development.
• Participate in software architecture discussions, code reviews, debugging efforts, and continuous improvement of development processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor\'s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience developing embedded software or flight software.
• Direct experience developing, modifying, or integrating PX4 or ArduPilot on unmanned aircraft platforms.
• Strong programming experience using modern C and C++.
• Experience developing software for embedded Linux or real-time embedded systems.
• Experience integrating avionics hardware including IMUs, GPS receivers, radios, sensors, companion computers, and electronic speed controllers.
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, and MAVLink.
• Experience using Git and modern software development workflows.
• Comfortable supporting hardware integration and aircraft flight testing.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across software, embedded hardware, and aircraft systems.
• Ability to work on projects subject to U.S. export control regulations.

Preferred Experience

• Experience developing both PX4 and ArduPilot flight software.
• Experience creating custom flight modes, autopilot modules, or low-level hardware drivers.
• Understanding of flight controls, aircraft dynamics, sensor fusion, state estimation, or autonomous navigation.
• Experience with Pixhawk-based flight controllers or custom avionics hardware.
• Familiarity with ROS2, companion computer architectures, or autonomous mission software.
• Experience with NVIDIA Jetson or similar embedded computing platforms.
• Experience building or maintaining SITL, HITL, or simulation environments.
• Knowledge of RTOS development and real-time software architecture.
• Python scripting for automation, testing, or analysis.
• Experience using laboratory debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or JTAG.
• Previous experience supporting fixed-wing unmanned aircraft development from prototype through production.

Why Join Us

• Work on complete aircraft systems from initial development through flight testing and production.
• Own software that directly impacts aircraft performance and operational capability.
• Collaborate daily with multidisciplinary engineering teams across avionics, embedded systems, mechanical engineering, and flight operations.
• Join a growing engineering organization where individual contributions have visible impact on product direction.
• Opportunity for meaningful technical ownership and long-term career growth within an innovative aerospace company.

Compensation Details
$140,000 - $190,000