Staff Engineer, Software - Autonomous Aircraft Integration

Yoh,-A-Day-; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401K plan

EAP

Job summary

Yoh, a Day & Zimmermann company, seeks a Staff Software Engineer – Autonomous Aircraft Integration in San Diego for hands-on development at the intersection of software, embedded hardware, and aircraft systems.

You will lead integration of autonomous software with onboard computing, sensors, and vehicle interfaces, and support live flight-test events in fast-paced environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• Typically 7+ years of relevant professional experience with a bachelor’s; 5+ with a master’s.
• Strong programming experience in C++ and Python.
• Hands-on experience with embedded and real-time systems.
• Strong knowledge of Linux and shell scripting.
• Experience with sensor integration and robotics middleware like ROS or DDS.

Responsibilities

• Lead integration and deployment of autonomous software onto unmanned aircraft and flight platforms.
• Integrate software with onboard computing, sensors, avionics, and vehicle interfaces.
• Configure, build, and validate systems for flight testing and demonstrations.
• Provide hands-on support during flight tests including troubleshooting.
• Diagnose hardware/software integration across embedded systems and autonomy environments.
• Travel to locations for integration and testing as required.

Skills

C++

Python

Embedded systems

Linux

ROS

DDS

UAS/UAVs

Flight control software

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related

Equivalent experience

Tools

Embedded hardware

Job description

Staff Engineer, Software - Autonomous Aircraft Integration (BH-400867)

Location San Diego, United States Sector IT

Yoh has an exciting, contract opportunity for a Staff Software Engineer – Autonomous Aircraft Integration to join our advanced autonomous technology client. This position is ideal for a senior engineer who enjoys working at the intersection of software, embedded hardware, and aircraft systems and is comfortable supporting both laboratory integration and live flight-test activities. The engineer will play a key role in bringing autonomous capabilities from development into operational aircraft environments, including integrating software with onboard computing, sensors, avionics, and vehicle interfaces. This is a hands‑on position that requires strong troubleshooting skills and the ability to support systems in fast‑paced field and flight‑test environments. See below for abbreviated job responsibilities and requirements.

Title: Staff Software Engineer – Autonomous Aircraft Integration

Location: Washington, DC; Boston, MA; or San Diego, CA (Onsite)

Type: Contract

Compensation: $95.00–$135.00/hour, depending on experience

Clearance: Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance. Clearance eligibility requirements may include U.S. citizenship.

• Lead integration and deployment of autonomous software capabilities onto unmanned aircraft and related flight platforms.
• Integrate software with onboard computing, sensors, avionics, communications, and vehicle control interfaces.
• Configure, build, and validate integrated systems in preparation for flight testing and operational demonstrations.
• Provide hands‑on technical support during flight‑test events, including system startup, readiness verification, troubleshooting, and issue resolution.
• Diagnose complex hardware/software integration problems across embedded computing and autonomy environments.
• Support collection, processing, and evaluation of flight‑test data to identify system issues and opportunities for performance improvements.
• Partner with software, autonomy, guidance/navigation/control, systems engineering, and test teams throughout integration and validation activities.
• Develop scripts, utilities, and processes that improve system testing, deployment, diagnostics, logging, and integration efficiency.
• Contribute to system verification, technical documentation, airworthiness, certification, and other applicable compliance activities.
• Travel to company, customer, and flight‑test locations as required to support integration and operational events.

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent relevant experience may also be considered.
• Typically 7+ years of relevant professional experience with a bachelor's degree, 5+ years with a master's degree, or comparable advanced education and experience.
• Strong programming experience with C++ and Python.
• Hands‑on experience developing, integrating, or troubleshooting embedded and real-time systems.
• Strong working knowledge of Linux, including command‑line tools, shell scripting, system configuration, and diagnostics.
• Understanding of sensor integration, sensor fusion, and distributed or robotics middleware technologies such as ROS or DDS.
• Experience supporting live system demonstrations, flight tests, field exercises, or other real‑world integration events.
• Familiarity with modeling and simulation environments used to test or validate complex aerospace or defense systems.
• Strong systems‑level troubleshooting skills across software and hardware interfaces.
• Ability to communicate effectively and collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering and test organizations.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 30–40%.

• Previous experience integrating or testing unmanned aerial systems (UAS/UAVs) or other autonomous vehicles.
• Experience with autonomy architectures, flight‑control software, avionics, or guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems.
• Hands‑on knowledge of electronics, sensor interfaces, avionics integration, or aircraft system bring‑up.
• Experience building automation for testing, system health monitoring, data logging, or post‑test analysis.
• Previous experience supporting Department of Defense customers, demonstrations, or technical reviews.
• Familiarity with UCI and OMS standards or similar defense system integration frameworks.
• Experience with aerospace simulation and validation tools such as AFSIM, NGTS, or comparable platforms.

Estimated Min Rate: $87.50

Estimated Max Rate: $125.00

What’s In It for You?

Benefits include:

• Medical, Prescription, Dental & Vision Benefits (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
• Life & Disability Insurance (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
• MetLife Voluntary Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401K Retirement Savings Plan
• Direct Deposit & weekly epayroll
• Referral Bonus Programs
• Certification and training opportunities

Note: Any pay ranges displayed are estimations. Actual pay is determined by an applicant's experience, technical expertise, and other qualifications as listed in the job description.

Yoh, a Day & Zimmermann company, 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 status as a protected veteran.

Visit https://www.yoh.com/applicants-with-disabilities to contact us if you are an individual with a disability and require accommodation in the application process.

For California applicants, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. All of the material job duties described in this posting are job duties for which a criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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