Senior/Principal Software Engineer

Radiance Technologies; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Radiance Technologies is seeking a seasoned Senior/Principal Software Engineer to lead the design, development, integration and verification of software for advanced missile and guided-projectile systems. You will bridge flight dynamics theory with real-time embedded execution, owning the software architecture for Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) and managing HWIL simulations.

You will lead VV&A activities, develop automated tests, and support end-to-end flight test campaigns, including

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software engineering in aerospace/defense or missile systems.
• BS/MS/PhD in CS/AE/EE or related field.
• Strong C/C++ real-time embedded programming skills.
• Experience with RTOS such as VxWorks or Linux PREEMPT_RT.

Responsibilities

• Lead GNC and embedded software development for missile systems.
• Design, implement, integrate, and verify mission-critical software across HWIL labs.
• Translate flight dynamics models into high-performance, real-time code.
• Use Model-Based Design to generate code for flight computers.
• Manage HWIL environments and test campaigns; ensure VV&A traceability.
• Develop automated tests and regression suites for CI.
• Collaborate with systems engineering and flight test teams on pre-flight analyses.
• Support field deployment and post-flight data reduction.

Skills

C/C++ for RT embedded

Flight dynamics knowledge

Python/MATLAB scripting

Education

BS/MS/PhD in CS/AE/EE

Tools

dSPACE

PXI/CompactRIO

Speedgoat

MIL-STD-1553

Ethernet/UDP

ARINC 429

RS-422

Git

SVN

DOORS

Jira

VxWorks

PREEMPT_RT Linux

Job description

Radiance Technologies, a rapidly growing employee-owned company, is seeking a seasoned Senior/Principal Software Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, and verification of software for advanced missile and guided-projectile systems. In this role, you will be the bridge between flight dynamics theory and real-time embedded execution, owning the software architecture for Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), managing complex Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) simulation labs, and supporting end-to-end flight test campaigns.

Key Responsibilities

• GNC & Embedded Software Development
• Design, implement, integrate, and verify mission-critical missile software, focusing heavily on GNC algorithms, autopilot loops, and flight control laws.
• Translate complex mathematical flight dynamics models into high-performance, deterministic, real-time code.
• Utilize Model-Based Design (MBD) frameworks (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink auto-coding) to transition control algorithms seamlessly into target hardware.
• Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) & Simulation Management
• Architect, maintain, and expand HWIL test environments, integrating flight computers, inertial measurement units (IMUs), actuation systems, and sensor suites.
• Plan and execute rigorous HWIL test campaigns to validate software performance against simulated aerodynamic threats, target profiles, and environmental disturbances.
• Troubleshoot complex, multi-domain system failures spanning software logic, digital/analog signal interfaces, and physical hardware behavior.
• Verification, Validation, & Accreditation (VV&A)
• Lead VV&A activities for simulation environments, software-only test beds, and HWIL facilities to ensure high fidelity and traceability to system requirements.
• Develop automated test scripts and regression suites to support continuous integration and rapid deployment of software updates.
• Pre-Flight Support & Mission Planning
• Collaborate with systems engineering and flight test teams to execute pre-flight activities, including missile flyout predictions, trajectory simulations, and safety analysis.
• Define and optimize Restricted Operating Zones (ROZ), range safety limits, and mission scripts for live-fire or captive-carry tests.
• Field Deployment & Discrepancy Resolution
• Apply deep flight-dynamics and systems-level knowledge to root-cause analysis, anomaly investigation, and discrepancy resolution during test execution.
• Deploy to remote test ranges, proving grounds, or integration facilities as required to support pre-test checkouts, launch operations, and post-flight data reduction.

Required Qualifications & Technical Stack

• Experience: 10+ years of professional software engineering experience specifically within aerospace, defense, or missile systems.
• Education: B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Core Programming Languages: Advanced proficiency in C and C++ for real-time embedded environments; familiarity with Python or MATLAB for scripting and analysis.
• Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS): Experience developing safety-critical software on RTOS platforms (e.g., VxWorks, Linux with PREEMPT_RT).
• Domain Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of flight dynamics, 6-DOF (Degrees of Freedom) simulation, aerodynamics, and control theory.
• HWIL & Lab Equipment: Proven background managing HWIL labs using real-time simulation hardware (e.g., dSPACE, National Instruments PXI/CompactRIO, Speedgoat) and communication protocols (MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet/UDP, ARINC 429, RS-422).
• Clearance: Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with safety-critical software development standards (e.g., DO-178C or equivalent military standards).
• Familiarity with Agile development workflows, configuration management tools (Git, SVN), and requirements traceability tools (DOORS, Jira).
• Hands-on experience with sensor simulation or seeker-in-the-loop (SIL) testing.

Radiance Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.