Senior Android Apps Engineer – ArcTAK Lead

Firestorm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Med/ dental/ vision

401(k) plan

Equity grants

Unlimited PTO

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Firestorm in San Diego, CA, is seeking an Android Applications Engineer, Tactical Assault Kit (TAK). You will design and develop TAK-based Android solutions to support real-time comms, situational awareness, and mission execution for defense and tactical operations.

You will lead a small team, mentor engineers, and own the product roadmap from development through release, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver secure, high-performance applications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher degree in CS, software engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of software development with Java focus.
• 5+ years Android development with Android Studio, SDK, Gradle, Jetpack.
• C++ integration into Android using NDK and JNI.
• Experience with encryption, authentication, and secure communication in restricted environments.
• Secure DevOps practices with test automation and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong Android architecture knowledge (Activities, Services, etc.).
• Excellent written and verbal communication for customer-facing work.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain U.S. Government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement ATAK plugins, features, and integrations in Java.
• Lead the full development lifecycle of ATAK-based application solutions.
• Plan release goals, timelines, and cycles with a manager.
• Assist sprint planning for junior developers.
• Review code and mentor junior team members.
• Create build instructions, testing instructions, release notes, and docs.
• Engage with TAK repositories and community standards.
• Stay current with TAK updates and best practices.
• Design UI assets for austere environments.
• Apply MAVLink, Link 16, and OMNI protocols for secure cross-platform solutions.
• Support evaluation and integration of UAS into TAK workflows.
• Participate in client engagements with government, military, and commercial stakeholders.
• Implement secure data handling and access controls.
• Collaborate with software, hardware, and operations teams.

Skills

Android development

Java

Leadership

Mentoring

Secure coding

Customer communication

Education

Bachelor's or higher in CS/SE

Tools

Android Studio

Android SDK

Gradle

Jetpack libraries

Android NDK

JNI

Job description

Who We Are

At Firestorm, we are building the future of expeditionary defense manufacturing and autonomous systems. Modern conflict has exposed a fundamental problem: the systems needed most by operators are often too expensive, too slow to produce, and too difficult to sustain at scale. Firestorm exists to change that.

We develop mission-adaptable aerial systems and deployable manufacturing infrastructure designed to put capability directly into the hands of the warfighter. From modular unmanned aircraft to xCell — our deployable microfactory — our goal is to make defense systems rapidly deployable, adaptable, and producible at the point of need.

We are looking for builders, operators, and problem-solvers who want to work on meaningful technology with real-world impact.

About the Role

Firestorm builds modular autonomous aircraft designed to adapt across missions, payloads, and deployment environments.

We are seeking an Android Applications Engineer, Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) to join our team at our San Diego office. In this role, you will design and develop solutions across the TAK ecosystem to support real-time communication, situational awareness, and mission execution for defense and tactical operations. You will rapidly grow into the lead developer on a small team, taking on ownership of this product at that time. Working alongside other senior engineers and cross-functional teammates, you'll apply your strong skills to build, test, and deploy capabilities that directly serve frontline operators.

You would be a good candidate for this position if you fit the following description: You have extensive experience in Android and Java engineering. You possess leadership skills and are eager to mentor other engineers. You're curious about real-world tactical challenges and are motivated to build solutions which work in demanding environments. You thrive on collaboration, working with developers, quality assurance, operators, and product managers to deliver impactful results. You welcome rapidly evolving technologies and are comfortable iterating quickly to stay ahead of shifting requirements. You hold yourself to high standards in coding, testing, and documentation. You're always looking to improve.

What You’ll Do

• Design and implement ATAK plugins, features, and integrations in Java.
• Lead the full development lifecycle of ATAK-based application solutions.
• Work closely with a manager to plan release goals, timelines, and cycles.
• Assist with sprint planning for junior developers.
• Review code from junior developers and assist in their skills development.
• Author build instructions, testing instructions, release notes and other technical documents.
• Contribute to and navigate official TAK repositories, maintaining alignment with community standards and coordinating with external stakeholders.
• Engage with TAK community initiatives to stay current on feature updates and best practices.
• Create UI assets and ensure interface designs are optimized for ease of use in austere and high-intensity environments.
• Apply knowledge of industry-standard protocols (i.e. MAVLink, Link 16, OMNI) to develop secure solutions for cross-platform interoperability.
• Support the evaluation and integration of UAS systems into TAK workflows.
• Participate in client-facing engagements with government, military, and commercial stakeholders, including gathering feedback and delivering product demonstrations.
• Implement and maintain best practices for secure data handling, network configurations, and user access controls.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams (software, hardware, operations) to align TAK capabilities with broader organizational objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of software development experience with a strong focus on Java.
• 5+ years of experience developing for Android, including familiarity with Android Studio IDE, Android SDK, Gradle build system, and Jetpack libraries.
• Ability to seamlessly integrate C++ code into Android applications using the Android NDK and JNI.
• Experience implementing encryption, authentication, and secure communication methodologies in restricted environments.
• Background in secure DevOps practices, including test automation and CI/CD pipelines.
• High proficiency in Android architecture fundamentals, including the Activity lifecycle, Services, Broadcast Receivers, and Content Providers.
• Customer-facing communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences.
• U.S. citizenship is required, alongside the ability to obtain U.S. Government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of the TAK ecosystem (ATAK, TAK Server, etc.), including plugin development and system integration.
• Full understanding of the Cursor-On-Target message formats and its different sub-schemas.
• Demonstrated success building and maintaining ATAK/TAK solutions, including plugin creation and lifecycle management.
• Hands-on familiarity with the TAK Product Center, including code contributions, community collaboration, and plugin lifecycle management.
• Background in defense or tactical UX, with an understanding of operator constraints, workflows, and operational requirements.
• Experience with real-time video streaming systems (RTSP, SRT) connected to TAK platforms.
• Knowledge of unmanned aerial systems, including flight dynamics, sensor feeds, and communication protocols.

Work Environment

• This role is based in San Diego, CA.
• We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.

Compensation

US Salary Range: $145,000 - $165,000 USD

Benefits & Perks

Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Equity grants for new hires
• Unlimited PTO
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in July & December.
• Generous Parental Leave
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• FSA
• DCFSA
• HSA
• Hospital Indemnity insurance
• Critical Illness insurance
• Accident insurance
• Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.

Export Control Compliance

To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.

Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [e-mail] so we can provide the support you need.