Senior Autonomy Software Engineer

All Aviation Jobs; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid

Stock options

401(k) retirement plan

Year-end bonuses

Paid parental leave

Unlimited PTO

Office lunches

Fully stocked breakrooms

Job summary

Hermeus is seeking a Senior Autonomy Software Engineer to develop flight autonomy capabilities for our supersonic vehicle fleet. You will build software spanning guidance, navigation, and mission autonomy while collaborating with RPA pilots, GNC engineers, software platform engineers, simulation engineers, and command-and-control teams.

This is a hands-on role for an engineer who owns difficult cross-functional problems from design through integration and flight testing, influencing how our

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Proficient in modern C++ with production-quality software experience.
• Experience with autonomous systems, UAVs, or robotics.
• Familiarity with guidance, navigation, and control algorithms.

Responsibilities

• Develop flight autonomy software for guidance, navigation, and control.
• Design mission-autonomy behaviors and vehicle decision-making.
• Integrate autonomy with vehicle software architectures and C2 systems.
• Create automated test suites, simulations, and validation workflows.
• Collaborate with pilots, GNC, simulation, and ops teams to execute autonomy roadmap.

Skills

Modern C++

Autonomy software

Cross-disciplinary teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field

Tools

GNSS/INS integration

Simulation tools

Job description

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.

About The Role

We are seeking a Senior Autonomy Software Engineer to develop flight autonomy capabilities for Hermeus’ supersonic vehicle fleet. You will build software spanning guidance and control, mission autonomy, and navigation while working closely with RPA pilots, GNC engineers, software platform engineers, simulation engineers, and command-and-control teams.

This is a hands-on role for an engineer who is comfortable owning difficult, cross-functional problems from initial design through integration and flight testing. You will directly influence how Hermeus aircraft navigate, execute missions, interact with operators, and progressively achieve higher levels of autonomy.

The ideal candidate combines strong modern C++ software-development skills with experience in autonomous or unmanned systems and a practical understanding of guidance, controls, and navigation.

Responsibilities

• Develop modern C++ software for flight autonomy, guidance, navigation, and control
• Design and implement mission-autonomy behaviors and vehicle decision-making capabilities
• Develop and integrate guidance and control loops for unmanned aircraft
• Support the integration, evaluation, and validation of navigation sensors and navigation solutions
• Integrate autonomy capabilities into existing aircraft software architectures and command-and-control systems
• Develop automated test suites, simulation scenarios, and utilities to verify autonomy performance and expected behavior
• Work closely with GNC and simulation engineers to develop, test, and validate autonomy algorithms
• Partner with RPA pilots and flight-operations teams to define and execute the autonomy roadmap
• Integrate autonomy software with vehicle systems, communications links, ground systems, and operator interfaces
• Diagnose and resolve complex problems spanning autonomy software, vehicle dynamics, navigation, simulation, and command-and-control interfaces
• Participate in software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, ground-test, and flight-test activities
• Own technical problems from initial investigation through implementation, integration, testing, and operational use
• Drive solutions across multidisciplinary teams in environments where requirements and vehicle capabilities are rapidly evolving

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field
• Strong proficiency with modern C++, including experience developing production-quality software
• Strong general software-engineering fundamentals, including software architecture, debugging, testing, and performance-conscious development
• Experience developing software for unmanned aircraft, autonomous vehicles, robotics, spacecraft, or other autonomous systems
• Experience with guidance and control algorithms, control loops, trajectory generation, or vehicle guidance software
• Experience developing or integrating flight or mission-autonomy capabilities
• Experience developing or integrating navigation systems, sensors, or state-estimation solutions
• Ability to work effectively across software, GNC, simulation, systems, operations, and other engineering disciplines
• Demonstrated ability to independently identify technical problems and drive them through resolution
• Experience integrating complex software capabilities into larger vehicle or robotic-system architectures

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Experience developing autonomy software for unmanned aerial systems or remotely piloted aircraft
• Experience with flight guidance, path planning, trajectory generation, control allocation, or vehicle control
• Experience with GNSS, INS, IMUs, air-data systems, sensor fusion, or other navigation technologies
• Experience integrating autonomy software with command-and-control systems
• Familiarity with over-the-air communications, vehicle-to-ground protocols, telemetry, and command interfaces
• Experience with mission planning, contingency management, health monitoring, or autonomous decision-making
• Experience with Linux-based embedded or real-time software systems
• Experience with simulation, SIL, HIL, system-integration labs, ground testing, or flight testing
• Experience collaborating directly with pilots, operators, or flight-test teams
• Aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomous vehicle, or spacecraft experience
• Experience working in a startup, rapid-prototyping, or highly iterative development environment

$130,000 - $210,000 a year

The salary range listed for this role is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope and responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, market data, and business needs.

At Hermeus, compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. We offer competitive pay, equity, and a range of benefits designed to support our team.

Benefits

• Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid healthcare and pet insurance
• Financial: Competitive pay, stock options, 401(k) retirement plan, and potential year-end bonuses
• Time Off: Paid parental leave, 12 federal holidays, unlimited PTO for exempt employees, and generous accrued PTO for non-exempt employees
• Office Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakrooms

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by22 C.F.R.

120.62or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Hermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.