Software Engineer 1

Knightwerx; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Knightwerx is seeking a Software Engineer I to help build autonomous aircraft, working across navigation, perception, planning, and sensor integration to bring autonomy capabilities from prototype to production.

You'll collaborate with flight software, avionics, and mission systems teams, tackle challenging real-world problems, and own components from day one, with rapid iteration on real aircraft and flight-test activities.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of production software development with modern C++.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant technical discipline.
• Experience taking requirements through implementation, testing and deployment.
• Familiarity with Linux development environments.
• Ability to work across cross-functional teams and ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Develop production-quality C++ software for autonomous systems.
• Collaborate across navigation, perception, planning and sensor integration.
• Support integration, testing, and flight-test activities from prototype to production.

Skills

C++

Linux

Robotics

Embedded systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related technical discipline

Tools

ROS/ROS2

MAVLink

PX4

Job description

At Knightwerx, you'll help build autonomous aircraft designed to operate in GPS-denied, contested, and complex environments where traditional systems fall short.

As a Software Engineer I, you'll work across navigation, perception, planning, sensor integration, and decision-making systems to deliver resilient autonomy capabilities from prototype through production. Partnering closely with flight software, avionics, autonomy, and mission systems teams, you'll solve challenging real-world problems and help shape the software that powers the next generation of autonomous flight.

This is an opportunity to own meaningful technical challenges from day one. As an early contributor, you'll have a direct impact on the systems we build, the decisions we make, and the capabilities we deliver to customers. You'll work closely with hardware, integration, and flight-test teams, rapidly iterating on solutions and seeing your software deployed on real aircraft.

If you're motivated by difficult technical problems, ownership of the mission, continuous learning, and seeing your work take flight in operational systems, we'd love to talk.

Technical Challenges You Will Tackle

• Develop software that enables reliable aircraft operation in GPS-denied, contested, and complex environments.
• Design, implement, test, and maintain production-quality C++ software for autonomous systems.
• Contribute across navigation, perception, planning, sensor integration, and mission software capabilities.
• Integrate software with sensors, mission systems, and embedded platforms.
• Collaborate with autonomy, embedded, avionics, and mission systems teams to develop robust, scalable solutions.
• Troubleshoot complex system-level issues spanning software, networking, communications, and hardware interfaces.
• Participate in architecture discussions and contribute to the evolution of Knightwerx autonomy platforms.
• Build maintainable, readable code that supports future aircraft capabilities.
• Support system integration, test activities, and flight-test efforts as capabilities move from prototype to production.
• Document design approaches, implementation decisions, and test procedures to support long-term system success.

Required Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience developing production software in modern C++.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience taking engineering requirements through implementation, testing, and deployment.
• Understanding of software development lifecycle best practices and version control systems.
• Experience working with hardware-integrated software systems, robotics platforms, embedded systems, IoT devices, or sensor-based products.
• Familiarity with Linux-based development environments.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work through ambiguity using first-principles thinking.
• Ability to work effectively in highly collaborative, cross-functional engineering environments.
• Ownership mindset with a willingness to take responsibility for outcomes and drive solutions forward.
• Demonstrated commitment to technical excellence, continuous improvement, and learning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ROS or ROS2.
• Experience with MAVLink, PX4, or related unmanned systems technologies.
• Experience with robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace systems, or unmanned aircraft.
• Familiarity with networking, distributed systems, and real-time communication protocols.
• Experience integrating sensors such as cameras, IMUs, GPS units, LiDAR, radar, or other perception systems.
• Experience working with mission-critical or safety-critical systems.

Why Join Knightwerx

• Build technology that matters and contributes to real-world missions.
• Own meaningful technical challenges instead of being limited to a narrow piece of a larger program.
• Work directly alongside engineers, operators, and flight-test teams.
• Move quickly and see the impact of your contributions firsthand.
• Help shape products and technical decisions in a growing company.
• Learn across multiple engineering disciplines including autonomy, avionics, mission systems, embedded software, and flight operations.
• Join a team that values accountability, technical curiosity, ownership, and mission execution.

About Knightwerx

Knightwerx develops American-made, AI-powered unmanned aerial systems and remote sensing technologies that support human-machine teaming in mission-critical environments. We build next-generation aerospace and autonomy solutions for both commercial and government customers where performance, speed, and reliability matter.

As a growing company, we offer the opportunity to work close to the mission, close to the product, and close to the decisions that shape what gets built. Team members have the ability to influence outcomes, take ownership beyond their job title, and contribute directly to the success of the business.

Additional Information

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• On-site role in Scottsdale, Arizona.
• Collaborative, engineering-focused work environment.
• Infrequent travel may be required to support integration, testing, and customer activities.