Lead Flight Software Engineer - UAS Autonomy & Flight Controls

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

Job summary

Approach Venture is seeking a Lead Flight Software Engineer in Texas to own the flight software architecture for unmanned aircraft. You will work across PX4, ArduPilot, and commercial platforms to build a flexible software stack supporting autonomy, C2, and external interfaces.

You will lead SIL/HIL environments, evaluate interfaces, and collaborate with avionics and navigation teams to ensure reliable operation in GPS-denied and challenging environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline.
• Hands-on flight software development or integration experience.
• Experience with embedded Linux or RTOS and C/C++.
• Familiarity with PX4, ArduPilot, Auterion, or similar platforms.
• Exposure to software configuration management and MAVLink.

Responsibilities

• Lead the flight software development, integration, and validation.
• Build interfaces connecting flight controllers, companion computers, and external systems.
• Establish SIL and HIL test environments for verification.
• Develop abstraction layers to reduce dependency on flight SDKs.
• Maintain ICDs for all system interfaces.
• Collaborate across avionics, navigation, and flight test teams.
• Document software architecture and verification results.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded Linux

Real-time systems

Flight software development

PX4/ArduPilot/Auterion

MAVLink

SIL/HIL testing

System integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering or related field

Tools

PX4

ArduPilot

Auterion

MAVLink

uORB

DDS

Protobuf/JSON Schema

Job description

Round Rock or Fort Worth, TX | On-site

Opportunity Summary

Join a well-funded, seed-stage defense technology startup developing low-cost unmanned aircraft systems for government and defense applications. With active government contracts and strong customer traction, the company is moving quickly through aircraft development, integration, and flight testing. We are seeking a Lead Flight Software Engineer to own the development, integration, and validation of the aircraft's flight software architecture. You will work across PX4, ArduPilot, and commercial flight control platforms to build a flexible, reliable software stack that supports aircraft autonomy, command and control, and integration with external systems. This is a hands-on technical leadership role with significant ownership of the flight software architecture, from simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing through flight readiness and software acceptance. You will work closely with avionics, navigation, and flight test engineers to develop software that performs reliably in real-world operating environments, including GPS-denied and contested conditions.

About Us

We are a venture-backed aerospace and defense startup building affordable, mission-ready unmanned aircraft systems. Our focus is on developing reliable, scalable platforms that can be manufactured efficiently and deployed to meet evolving defense requirements. Backed by significant seed funding and active government contracts, we are building a small, highly technical team to accelerate aircraft development, expand flight testing, and deliver operational capabilities to our customers.

Job Duties

• Lead the development, integration, and validation of flight software for unmanned aircraft, with responsibility for the architecture connecting flight controllers, companion computers, and external command and control systems.
• Establish and maintain software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments to support development, integration, and verification.
• Evaluate the existing flight software architecture, including build systems, configuration parameters, application interfaces, and dependencies on commercial flight control platforms.
• Develop software abstraction layers that reduce dependencies on proprietary flight control SDKs and enable integration with alternative flight software platforms.
• Build and maintain a parallel flight software stack using upstream PX4, supporting greater flexibility and control over the aircraft's software architecture.
• Develop interfaces and translation layers to support interoperability between PX4, ArduPilot, and other flight control systems.
• Define and maintain interface control documents (ICDs) governing communication between flight controllers, companion computers, and onboard systems.
• Develop and integrate command and control interfaces in accordance with applicable interoperability standards, including operator interface functionality and system behavior.
• Work with navigation and autonomy engineers to integrate flight software capabilities that support reliable operation in GPS-denied or degraded navigation environments.
• Develop and execute software verification procedures, troubleshoot integration issues, and support software acceptance testing and flight readiness reviews.
• Collaborate with avionics, embedded software, systems engineering, and flight test teams to resolve technical issues and validate aircraft performance.
• Maintain clear technical documentation covering software architecture, system interfaces, configuration management, and verification results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Significant hands-on experience developing, modifying, or integrating flight software for unmanned aircraft or other aerospace systems.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and experience developing software for embedded Linux or real-time embedded systems.
• Practical experience working with PX4, ArduPilot, Auterion, or similar flight control platforms, including modifying or integrating the underlying software architecture.
• Experience integrating flight controllers with companion computers, onboard sensors, and external communication systems.
• Strong understanding of MAVLink, flight control interfaces, software configuration management, and communication between onboard systems.
• Experience developing and maintaining software-in-the-loop or hardware-in-the-loop test environments.
• Ability to develop software abstraction layers, define system interfaces, and support integration across multiple hardware and software platforms.
• Experience debugging complex software and hardware integration issues using simulation, bench testing, and flight test data.
• Ability to own critical software development efforts independently while working closely with a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• U.S. citizenship required for access to export-controlled technical data and eligibility for a Department of Defense security clearance.

Preferred Experience

• Experience developing or integrating GPS-denied navigation and alternative PNT capabilities, including visual navigation, terrain-referenced navigation, GNSS anti-spoofing, or anti-jam technologies.
• Deep experience with PX4 or ArduPilot internals, including MAVLink 2, uORB, DDS, and custom flight control software development.
• Experience working with Auterion-based flight control systems, including SDK integration, application interfaces, configuration management, and migration to upstream PX4.
• Experience developing flight software for fixed-wing or VTOL fixed-wing unmanned aircraft.
• Familiarity with defense command and control architectures and interoperability standards, including UCI, FAAD C2, NGC2, STANAG 4586, and Cursor on Target (CoT).
• Experience with open systems architectures and relevant defense standards, including SOSA, OMS, and WOSA.
• Familiarity with tactical software interfaces and data exchange technologies, including TAK protocols, DDS, Protobuf, JSON Schema, and MISB 0601.
• Experience supporting software qualification, aircraft airworthiness reviews, safety assessments, or formal flight readiness processes.
• Familiarity with software security requirements, Zero Trust design principles, and the Authorization to Operate (ATO) process.
• Experience developing flight software for low-cost, attritable, or expendable unmanned aircraft.
• Prior experience at an early-stage company or on a small engineering team with direct ownership of a critical software system.

Why Join Us

• Join a well-funded seed-stage startup with active government contracts and demonstrated customer traction.
• Own the flight software architecture for a new unmanned aircraft platform, with significant influence over technical decisions and system capabilities.
• Work across flight controls, autonomy, navigation, and command and control, with direct involvement in aircraft development and testing.
• Help build a flexible flight software architecture that supports multiple flight control platforms and future aircraft configurations.
• Work closely with a small, hands-on engineering team where you can take software from initial development through integration, testing, and flight.
• Contribute to the development of affordable unmanned aircraft systems designed to address real-world defense requirements.

Compensation Details

$140,000 - $190,000