Software Engineer Level II

OWT Global LLC; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and Vision

Disability/Life Insurance

401k plan options

PTO & Holiday Pay

Job summary

OWT Global LLC is seeking an experienced Software Engineer Level II to support the development, integration, testing, and sustainment of advanced unmanned system software in Virginia Beach, VA. The role emphasizes C, C++, Python, autonomous navigation, sensor fusion, and UxS flight control interfaces.

The candidate will work across software and hardware interfaces, leverage QGroundControl and MAVLink, and contribute to mission-critical airborne and ground systems with a five-year program horizon.

Qualifications

• Active Secret security clearance with TS/SCI eligibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• Preferred Master’s degree and 5+ years of unmanned systems software experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, test, and maintain software for unmanned systems.
• Develop autonomous navigation and path planning capabilities.
• Support waypoint navigation, geofencing, routing, obstacle avoidance, and collision detection.
• Integrate navigation with UxS flight control systems (BetaFlight, ArduPilot, PX4).
• Develop and maintain ground control software and UI with Qt/QML.
• Utilize MAVLink for UAV-ground communications and testing.
• Analyze and troubleshoot sensor fusion across IMUs, GPS, cameras, LiDAR.
• Build software from source and support integration with embedded hardware.
• Collaborate across software, electrical, mechanical teams and leadership.

Skills

C programming

C++ programming

Python scripting

Autonomous navigation

Path planning

Sensor fusion

Ground control software

UxS flight control

Qt/QML

MAVLink

BetaFlight/ArduPilot/PX4

TCP/IP networking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering/Computer Science/Aerospace Engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

QGroundControl

Qt/QML

MAVLink

Git

CMake

Job description

Company Overview

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Tampa, FL, OWT Global is a small business that offers reliable and operationally proven expertise and support to the U.S. Government, industry partners and commercial vendors.

Company Overview

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Tampa, FL, OWT Global is a small business that offers reliable and operationally proven expertise and support to the U.S. Government, industry partners and commercial vendors. OWT Global prides itself on offering exceptional, industry leading services and solutions in a cost-effective manner for Engineering Support, RDT&E, Technical Program and Project management, operations, logistics, maintenance, and training of Unmanned Systems (UxS), Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR), and Air Domain Awareness and Defense (ADAD) technologies. OWT employs 96% veterans, selectively recruited from the Special Operations, Special Mission Unit, and Intelligence Communities with extensive experience tailored towards supporting counterterrorism operations and combatting emerging great power competition threats. With this unique foundation of U.S. military special operations, civilian intelligence agency veterans and manned and unmanned aircraft pilots and maintainers, OWT Global brings a blend of skills optimized for today’s dynamic operational needs. The OWT Global model pairs technical acumen with operational application to help drive the development and deployment of technology in a sustainable and affordable way.

Job Summary

OWT Global is seeking an experienced Software Engineer Level II to support the development, integration, testing, and sustainment of advanced software capabilities for unmanned systems in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Software Engineer will support the development of software that enables unmanned systems to navigate, communicate, sense, plan, and execute missions in complex operational environments. The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in C, C++, Python, autonomous navigation, path planning, sensor fusion, ground control software, and UxS flight control systems, along with the ability to work across the software and hardware interfaces that make unmanned systems effective. This position requires a software engineer who can do more than write code. The successful candidate will be comfortable understanding complex existing codebases, developing and integrating new capabilities, troubleshooting communications between hardware and software systems, building software from source, and supporting the transition of software from development into operational use. The Software Engineer will work with autonomous navigation technologies including waypoint navigation, geofencing, dynamic routing, obstacle avoidance, and collision detection. The position will also support sensor fusion capabilities involving data from systems such as IMUs, GPS, cameras, and LiDAR to improve situational awareness, navigation accuracy, and overall system performance. The successful candidate will have experience with UxS flight control environments such as BetaFlight, ArduPilot, and PX4, as well as ground control software such as QGroundControl. Experience with MAVLink, Qt/QML, TCP/IP networking, embedded systems, and software development tools will be particularly valuable. This position represents an opportunity to contribute directly to the development and integration of advanced unmanned system capabilities supporting a mission focused environment. The anticipated period of performance is five years, with a potential start date as early as August 31, 2026. The position is based in Virginia Beach, VA, with some to no travel anticipated depending on program requirements.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, test, and maintain software supporting unmanned systems and associated mission capabilities.


• Develop software using C, C++, Python, and object oriented programming methodologies.


• Deliver reliable production software within an agile development environment.


• Develop and implement autonomous navigation and path planning capabilities for unmanned systems.


• Support waypoint navigation, geofencing, dynamic routing, obstacle avoidance, and collision detection capabilities.


• Develop algorithms and software solutions that enable unmanned systems to operate effectively in dynamic environments.


• Integrate navigation and mission planning capabilities with UxS flight control systems.


• Work with BetaFlight, ArduPilot, and PX4 flight control environments to develop, integrate, configure, test, and troubleshoot software capabilities.


• Develop and integrate software supporting ground control and mission management systems.


• Utilize QGroundControl for mission planning, mission execution, system monitoring, testing, and troubleshooting.


• Develop and maintain user interfaces using the Qt/QML framework.


• Develop software and system capabilities that allow operators to effectively interact with and control unmanned systems.


• Integrate and utilize MAVLink for communications between unmanned aircraft and ground control stations.


• Analyze and troubleshoot communication issues between UxS platforms, ground stations, sensors, and supporting systems.


• Develop Python scripts for automation, data analysis, testing, system configuration, and rapid prototyping.


• Apply data analysis techniques to identify system performance issues and improve software functionality.


• Develop and maintain software interfaces for sensors and other hardware components.


• Implement and support sensor fusion techniques using data from IMUs, GPS, cameras, LiDAR, and other sensors.


• Develop software that combines data from multiple sensors to improve situational awareness, navigation accuracy, and system performance.


• Support integration of software with embedded hardware and UxS components.


• Troubleshoot issues involving interactions between software, hardware, communications systems, and sensors.


• Apply strong knowledge of networking concepts, including TCP/IP protocols, to support UxS communications and distributed system architectures.


• Diagnose and resolve network communication issues affecting unmanned systems and associated ground infrastructure.


• Analyze existing software architectures and complex codebases to identify defects, performance issues, and opportunities for improvement.


• Parse and reverse engineer complex software codebases written in languages such as C, C++, and Python to identify subtle errors in data processing and communications.


• Trace data flows through hardware and software systems to identify the source of system failures.


• Perform software debugging, testing, integration, and validation activities.


• Develop and execute software tests to verify functionality and system performance.


• Support system integration testing involving flight software, sensors, communications systems, ground control software, and UxS hardware.


• Build target software completely from source files and verify successful compilation and functionality.


• Troubleshoot compiler issues, dependency problems, build errors, and other development environment issues.


• Utilize integrated development environments, compilers, debuggers, source control systems, and other software development tools.


• Review existing software and implement modifications based on technical requirements and system needs.


• Participate in software design reviews, code reviews, technical discussions, and system integration activities.


• Document software designs, technical approaches, testing procedures, configuration information, and system results.


• Collaborate with software engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, UxS technicians, operators, and other technical personnel.


• Support rapid development and iterative improvement of UxS software capabilities.


• Work independently while maintaining close coordination with technical and program leadership.


• Identify technical problems and develop practical software solutions to support mission requirements.


• Maintain a strong focus on software quality, reliability, maintainability, cybersecurity, and system performance.


• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Requirements

• Active Secret security clearance with TS/SCI eligibility.


• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or another applicable engineering or science field.


• Minimum of 3 years of hands on professional experience with a relevant degree or 7 years of hands on professional experience without a degree.


• Proficiency in C, C++, and object oriented software development methodologies.


• Demonstrated ability to deliver working production software within an agile development environment.


• Extensive knowledge of autonomous navigation and path planning techniques.


• Demonstrated experience with waypoint navigation, geofencing, dynamic routing, obstacle avoidance, and collision detection algorithms.


• Extensive knowledge of BetaFlight, ArduPilot, and PX4, with approximately 5 years of applicable experience preferred.


• Experience developing or integrating software for unmanned systems.


• Experience with sensor fusion techniques involving IMUs, GPS, cameras, LiDAR, or similar sensors.


• Experience working with ground control software such as QGroundControl for mission planning, execution, and monitoring.


• Experience with the Qt/QML framework for developing user friendly graphical interfaces.


• Familiarity with MAVLink for communications between UAVs and ground stations.


• Proficiency in Python scripting for automation, data analysis, testing, and prototyping.


• Strong understanding of data networking concepts, including TCP/IP protocols.


• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot network communication issues.


• Demonstrated ability to analyze and reverse engineer complex codebases written in C, C++, Python, or similar languages.


• Experience identifying subtle software defects involving data processing and communications between hardware and software systems.


• Experience with CAD.


• Demonstrated ability to fully build target software from source files.


• Ability to troubleshoot software build, compilation, dependency, and configuration issues.


• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.


• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative engineering environment.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills.


• Ability to obtain and maintain all required customer and program access.

Preferred Skills And Education

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field.


• Five or more years of professional software engineering experience supporting unmanned systems, robotics, aerospace, defense, or other mission critical applications.


• Extensive experience developing software for autonomous unmanned systems.


• Advanced experience with ArduPilot, PX4, or BetaFlight.


• Strong experience developing autonomous navigation and path planning algorithms.


• Experience implementing obstacle avoidance and collision detection algorithms.


• Experience with advanced sensor fusion involving IMUs, GPS, cameras, LiDAR, radar, or other sensing technologies.


• Experience developing or modifying QGroundControl capabilities.


• Strong experience with Qt and QML application development.


• Experience developing software utilizing MAVLink.


• Experience with embedded software development and hardware integration.


• Experience troubleshooting software at the interface between embedded hardware, sensors, flight controllers, and communications systems.


• Experience with real time software development.


• Experience with Linux based software development environments.


• Experience with Git and other source control systems.


• Experience with build automation, continuous integration, and automated testing.


• Experience with CMake or similar build systems.


• Experience with network programming and distributed systems.


• Experience analyzing network traffic and diagnosing communications issues.


• Experience reverse engineering unfamiliar software systems and complex legacy codebases.


• Experience developing software that interfaces with multiple hardware and sensor systems.


• Experience developing mission planning, command and control, or autonomy software.


• Experience supporting U.S. Government, Department of Defense, aerospace, robotics, or UxS programs.


• Experience working in an agile software development environment.


• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of complex technical problems and drive them through resolution.


• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn unfamiliar software architectures, hardware systems, and development environments.


• Strong technical documentation and communication skills.


• FAA Part 107 certification or UxS operational experience is a plus.

Benefits

• Health, Dental and Vision


• Short Term/Long Term Disability/Life Insurance/Workers Compensation


• Traditional and Roth 401k plan options


• Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay

Department: UxS

Primary Location: Virginia Beach, VA

Job Type: Full Time

Job Level: Individual Contributor