Flight Software Lead

Hireclout; Florida City (FL); On-site; USD 220,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary: $220,000 - $250,000

Relocation package to Florida

Healthcare coverage

Job summary

Hireclout seeks a Flight Software Lead to own the flight computer software for a two-seat electric VTOL aircraft, from architecture through flight testing. You will work as an individual contributor on a lean team, with opportunities to grow a team as the program scales.

You will guide software assurance aligned to ASTM standards on the LSA path, and directly interface with other program leads. Bring hands-on expertise to build and deploy flight software in a fast-moving environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in safety-critical embedded software for flight, with hands-on development.
• Architected software for fly-by-wire flight control or vehicle management systems.
• Experience with DO-178C at Level A or B, adaptable to ASTM LSA path standards.
• At least 3 years on a small engineering team, owning work beyond a single specialty.

Responsibilities

• Own software architecture from RTOS to interfaces with flight control, propulsion, and battery hardware.
• Implement control laws and redundancy management on flight computers.
• Set up software development and assurance scaled to the LSA path.
• Own verification from requirements testing through HIL and iron bird integration.
• Manage software configuration and release to aircraft.
• Develop ground control station software for unmanned flight tests.
• Take software from bench to manned flight and production aircraft.
• Lead adoption of AI tools and workflows.

Skills

10+ years embedded software

Flight software architecture

DO-178C Level A/B experience

Small team leadership 3+ yrs

Job description

Job Title

Flight Software Lead

Role Overview

The Flight Software Lead owns the flight computer software of a two-seat electric VTOL aircraft, from clean-sheet architecture through the ground rigs to flight, on a program targeting LSA certification. This is an individual contributor role on a lean discipline-lead team, with the opportunity to build and lead a team as the program scales. You do the core work yourself and direct subcontractors where needed. You close your interfaces directly with the other leads.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the software architecture, from the real-time operating system to the interfaces with flight control, propulsion, and battery hardware.
• Implement the control laws and redundancy management on the flight computers.
• Set up and run software development and assurance, right-sized to the LSA path.
• Own software verification, from requirements-based testing through integration on the HIL and iron bird rigs.
• Control software configuration and lifecycle data, and release every build to the aircraft.
• Build the ground control station software for unmanned flight test.
• Take the software from the bench to manned flight and into the production aircraft.
• Lead the adoption of AI tools and their workflows.

Qualifications & Education

• 10+ years in safety-critical embedded software, with hands-on development of flight software that has flown.
• Has architected the software of a fly-by-wire flight control computer or vehicle management system.
• Has developed flight software under DO-178C at Level A or B, and can right-size that rigor to ASTM consensus standards on the LSA path.
• 3+ years on a small engineering team, such as at a startup, a UAS company, or a prototype group within a larger company, owning work beyond a single specialty.

Preferred Experience

• Experience on a passenger eVTOL program.
• Flight software experience on a manned aircraft.
• Has taken flight software into a certified production aircraft.
• Experience with model-based development and code generation for control laws.
• Has brought AI tools into a team's workflow, with a clear method for verifying their output.
• Background in flight test instrumentation, subsystem or auxiliary computer software, or iron-bird-style simulation software, ideally across several programs or aircraft types.

Why This Opportunity

• Own the flight computer software of a two-seat electric VTOL aircraft, from clean-sheet architecture through the ground rigs to flight.
• First flight software hire: you set the architecture, the development process, and the way the software team works.
• Define how software assurance is right-sized to the ASTM consensus standards on the LSA path.
• Hands-on individual contributor role where you do the core work yourself and direct subcontractors where needed.

What Makes This Opportunity Attractive

• Lean discipline-lead team: close your interfaces directly with the other leads.
• A rare chance to build flight software from a clean sheet, rather than work as one contributor inside a large legacy program.
• Lead the adoption of AI tools and workflows to multiply what a small team can deliver.
• Early-stage, fast-growing company with an aggressive development plan, and a chance to shape the software function from day one.
• Path to building and leading a team as the program scales.

Benefits And Perks

• Salary: $220,000 - $250,000
• Relocation package for candidates moving to Florida
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage with flexible plan options
• Retirement program with employer contributions
• Generous PTO, holidays, and additional leave programs
• Structured work schedule designed to support balance and productivity
• Professional development and continued learning opportunities

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis now and in the future. This position does not offer sponsorship.