Senior Autonomy Software Engineer

Hermeus; Los Angeles, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Pet insurance

Stock options

401(k) plan

Bonuses

Parental leave

Unlimited PTO

Office lunches

Job summary

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company aiming to build the fastest aircraft through rapid iterative prototyping. We seek a Senior Autonomy Software Engineer to develop flight autonomy capabilities for our supersonic vehicle fleet.

You will own difficult cross-functional problems from design through flight testing, influencing navigation, missions, and interaction with operators. Strong modern C++ and hands-on experience with autonomous systems are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related technical field.
• Strong proficiency in modern C++ and production-quality software.
• Experience in unmanned aircraft, autonomous systems, or robotics.
• Experience with guidance, control, and navigation algorithms.
• Ability to work across software, GNC, and simulation teams.
• Experience with vehicle autonomy and flight-testing.
• Ability to own technical problems end-to-end.

Responsibilities

• Develop modern C++ software for flight autonomy, guidance, navigation, and control.
• Design and implement mission-autonomy behaviors and vehicle decision-making.
• Develop and integrate guidance and control loops for unmanned aircraft.
• Support integration, evaluation, and validation of navigation sensors.
• Integrate autonomy into existing aircraft software architectures and command-and-control systems.
• Create automated tests, simulation scenarios, and utilities to verify autonomy.
• Collaborate with GNC and simulation engineers to test autonomy algorithms.
• Partner with pilots and operation teams to define the autonomy roadmap.
• Integrate autonomy software with vehicle systems, comms, and interfaces.
• Diagnose and resolve cross-domain problems in autonomy, dynamics, navigation.
• Participate in software-in-the-loop, HIL, ground and flight tests.
• Own technical problems from investigation to deployment.
• Drive solutions across multidisciplinary teams in evolving requirements.

Skills

Modern C++

Autonomous systems

Guidance & navigation

Cross-functional collaboration

Flight autonomy

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

Linux

Embedded/RTOS

Sensor fusion

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 frominitialdesign through integration and flight testing. You will directly influence howHermeusaircraftnavigate, 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 unmannedaircraft

• Support the integration, evaluation, and validation of navigation sensors and navigation solutions

• Integrate autonomy capabilities into existingaircraftsoftware 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, andvalidateautonomy 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 frominitialinvestigation 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

• Strongproficiencywith 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 unmannedaircraft, 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 independentlyidentifytechnical 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 pilotedaircraft

• 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 by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or 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.