Staff Software Architect

Red 6; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare (100% coverage) for the EMP

Dental and Vision

Paid time off

Short and Long‑Term Disability

FSA

401(k)

Voluntary benefits

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

Red 6, a Santa Monica‑based AR startup, seeks a Staff Software Architect (Level 4) to define and evolve software architectures across the ATARS portfolio, collaborating with leadership and program teams to deliver scalable and secure systems.

The role covers embedded software, real‑time graphics, edge computing, cloud services, AI‑enabled capabilities, and backend development for open mission systems. DO‑178/AC 17‑01 familiarity is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM discipline.
• 10+ years of software engineering experience, including significant expertise in software architecture or technical leadership roles.
• Software development and architecture experience in aerospace or similarly complex integrated hardware/software systems.
• Experience with embedded systems, distributed computing, cloud platforms, and real‑time applications.
• Experience developing software for flight‑critical, safety‑critical, or mission‑critical systems; familiarity with DO‑178 and/or AC 17‑01 is strongly preferred.
• Understanding of microservices, event‑driven architectures, distributed systems, containerized applications, and edge computing.
• Experience with DevSecOps, CI/CD, automated testing, secure software development practices, and modern software delivery methods.
• Experience with embedded Linux, RTOS, networking, GPU computing, and high‑performance software architectures.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Define, document, and evolve software architectures for ATARS and future software‑enabled products.
• Lead architectural designs across embedded software, real‑time rendering and operations, simulation, mission systems, networking, cloud infrastructure, edge computing, AI/ML services, and user applications.
• Design for mission‑critical performance requirements, including latency, determinism, scalability, cybersecurity, reliability, maintainability, and operational resiliency.
• Work with Chief Engineers and Systems Engineering to align software architecture with system architecture, technical baselines, product roadmaps, interfaces, and verification plans.
• Develop and apply modular, scalable, and reusable software architectures supporting MOSA, OMS/UCI, FACE, and other applicable defense standards.
• Implement and certify safety critical code to DO‑178, AC 17‑01 or other similar standards.
• Establish and promote software design standards, architectural patterns, interface and API practices, code quality expectations, and secure software development lifecycle practices.
• Contribute to modernization efforts including containerization, cloud‑native services, DevSecOps, CI/CD automation, infrastructure as code, and software factory practices.
• Collaborate with Systems Engineering on Digital Engineering, MBSE, requirements traceability, interface management, and verification planning.
• Support customer engagements, proposal development, and technical discussions when needed.

Skills

Software architecture

Embedded systems

Real-time software

Cloud services

DevSecOps

Cybersecurity practices

RTOS

DoD security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering or related STEM

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Kubernetes

Containerization

CI/CD

Job description

Company Overview

Red 6 is an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) technology startup leading the way in synthetic air combat training. Our primary technology, supporting our ATARS product, enables pilots to simulate the cognitive challenges of flying while accessing realistic, scalable training in dynamic outdoor environments.

The Role

Red 6 is seeking a Staff Software Architect (Level 4) to join our dynamic team in Louisville, CO or Santa Monica, CA. This individual contributor role is responsible for defining, implementing, and evolving software architectures across Red 6’s Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS) product portfolio and future software platforms. The Staff Software Architect works closely with Engineering leadership, Product Management, Chief Engineer(s), Systems Engineering, and Program teams to deliver scalable, secure, maintainable, and mission‑ready software. The role provides hands‑on architectural definition across real‑time graphics, embedded software, edge computing, AI‑enabled capabilities, cloud services, mission applications, simulation, and aircraft integration. This role also involves back‑end code development for open mission systems, real time operating systems (RTOS), and safety critical code as necessary.

Responsibilities

• Define, document, and evolve software architectures for ATARS and future software‑enabled products.
• Lead architectural designs across embedded software, real‑time rendering and operations, simulation, mission systems, networking, cloud infrastructure, edge computing, AI/ML services, and user applications.
• Design for mission‑critical performance requirements, including latency, determinism, scalability, cybersecurity, reliability, maintainability, and operational resiliency.
• Work with Chief Engineers and Systems Engineering to align software architecture with system architecture, technical baselines, product roadmaps, interfaces, and verification plans.
• Develop and apply modular, scalable, and reusable software architectures supporting MOSA, OMS/UCI, FACE, and other applicable defense standards.
• Implement and certify safety critical code to DO‑178, AC 17‑01 or other similar standards.
• Establish and promote software design standards, architectural patterns, interface and API practices, code quality expectations, and secure software development lifecycle practices.
• Contribute to modernization efforts including containerization, cloud‑native services, DevSecOps, CI/CD automation, infrastructure as code, and software factory practices.
• Collaborate with Systems Engineering on Digital Engineering, MBSE, requirements traceability, interface management, and verification planning.
• Support customer engagements, proposal development, and technical discussions when needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM discipline.
• 10+ years of software engineering experience, including significant expertise in software architecture or technical leadership roles.
• Software development and architecture experience in aerospace or similarly complex integrated hardware/software systems.
• Experience with embedded systems, distributed computing, cloud platforms, and real‑time applications.
• Experience developing software for flight‑critical, safety‑critical, or mission‑critical systems; familiarity with DO‑178 and/or AC 17‑01 is strongly preferred.
• Understanding of microservices, event‑driven architectures, distributed systems, containerized applications, and edge computing.
• Experience with DevSecOps, CI/CD, automated testing, secure software development practices, and modern software delivery methods.
• Experience with embedded Linux, RTOS, networking, GPU computing, and high‑performance software architectures.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant technical discipline.
• Experience developing software for AR, VR, MR, or advanced visualization systems.
• Experience with real‑time graphics engines, rendering pipelines, GPU programming, or computer vision.
• Experience architecting AI/ML‑enabled software platforms supporting autonomy, synthetic training, or mission applications.
• Experience with OMS, FACE, MOSA, CMOSS, or similar DoD standards.
• Experience with Kubernetes, cloud‑native infrastructure, hybrid cloud, and edge deployment.
• Experience implementing Digital Engineering and MBSE practices.
• Experience with RMF, Zero Trust, and DoD cybersecurity frameworks.
• Active DoD Secret or Top Secret security clearance.

Estimated Base Salary Dependent On Skill And Experience

$150,000 to $190,000 range

Full-Time Employee Benefits

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision (100% coverage for Employees)
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick, paid holidays, and parental leave
• Short and Long‑Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Voluntary Worksite Benefits (Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity)
• May be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus based on individual and company performance, subject to plan terms.

Note

Red 6 reserves the right to change its current benefits program at any time, in a manner that is consistent with applicable federal and state regulations.

This job description is not a contract and confers no contractual rights, privileges, or benefits on any applicant or potential applicant. Red 6 has the right to change any and all terms of this job description, including, but not limited to, job responsibilities, qualifications, and benefits. Nothing in this job description constitutes an offer or guarantee of employment.

Red Six Aerospace, Inc, is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

California: https://www.caljobs.ca.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx

Colorado: https://www.connectingcolorado.com/

Florida: https://www.employflorida.com/vosnet/Default.aspx

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), Red 6 Aerospace, Inc. operating company you are applying to work for (hereinafter, “we”, “our”, or “us”) may collect personal information and use it for certain business purposes as described below in this Job Applicant and Employee Privacy Notice. We are required to disclose the following information to California “consumers” regarding our collection of their personal information. Under the CCPA, “consumers” means California residents, including job applicants, employees, or contractors of a business.

Candidate Privacy Notice