Senior Flight Software Engineer

Stealth Mode; Gardena (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Stealth Mode, based in Gardena, CA, is seeking a Flight Software Engineer to design and develop crucial software for aerospace and defense systems. This role entails collaboration with cross-functional teams to transform system requirements into reliable, real-time software.

The ideal candidate will possess strong C/C++ skills, a degree in a relevant field, and 7+ years of experience. Knowledge of real-time software and sensor integration is essential, alongside strong debugging abilities.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience working as a Flight Software Engineer.
• Experience with hardware bring-up and debugging.
• Comfortable working close to hardware, reading datasheets, and debugging buses.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mission-critical software for aerospace and defense systems.
• Work closely with engineering teams to translate system requirements into software.
• Contribute across the software development lifecycle, including testing and validation.

Skills

Strong C or C++ in performance-critical systems

Real-time or near-real-time software

Sensor integration (IMU, GPS, cameras, radar, etc.)

Linux-based embedded platforms

Education

Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineer, or Computer Engineering

Job description

About The Company

We are a stealth-mode Aerospace & Defense startup headquartered in Gardena, CA. Our founding team hails from SpaceX, Anduril, and Lockheed Martin, and we are backed by Joint Staff-level military leadership and several Silicon Valley firms. With a world-class business development & leadership team already in place, we are well positioned to capitalize on already overwhelming demand.

Job Overview

As a Flight Software Engineer, you will design and develop mission-critical software that enables the operation of advanced aerospace and defense systems. You will work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to translate system requirements into reliable, real-time embedded software, integrating with avionics hardware, sensors, and communication subsystems. This role involves contributing across the full software development lifecycle, including design, implementation, testing, and validation in simulation and hardware-in-the-loop environments. The ideal candidate is passionate about building high-reliability software that meets the rigorous safety, performance, and security standards required for defense missions.

What You’ll Work On

• Real-time flight software architecture for autonomous systems
• Guidance, navigation, and control software integration with onboard sensors
• Interfaces with IMUs, GPS, seekers, and motor/actuation systems
• High-reliability communication between processors (CAN, UART, Ethernet, etc.)
• Hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) and software-in-the-loop (SITL) testing infrastructure
• Telemetry, logging, and system health monitoring
• Flight test support and debugging
• Our systems run across heterogeneous compute environments ranging from embedded microcontrollers to Linux flight computers, and must perform reliably under strict timing and resource constraints.

Qualifications

• Strong C or C++ in performance-critical systems
• Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineer, or Computer Engineering
• 7+ years of experience working a Flight Software Engineer
• Real-time or near-real-time software
• Sensor integration (IMU, GPS, cameras, radar, etc.)
• Experience with working along side Guidance / navigation / control systems team
• Linux-based embedded platforms
• Hardware bring-up and debugging
• You should be comfortable working close to the hardware, reading datasheets, debugging buses, and instrumenting systems in flight tests.

ITAR Requirements

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C.1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C.1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR