Staff Engineer, Software - Autonomous Aircraft Integration (No C2C)
Job Description
Flight Integration Engineer – Autonomy
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Duration: 6–12 months (opportunity available for extension and/or conversion)
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Position Summary
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The Flight Integration Engineer is responsible for deploying advanced autonomy solutions onto unmanned platforms and ensuring those systems perform reliably in real-world flight environments.
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This role sits at the intersection of hardware, software, autonomy, and systems engineering, bridging the gap between R&D and operational deployment. The engineer will integrate autonomy software with onboard compute, sensors, avionics, and control systems; prepare platforms for flight; support live testing; and troubleshoot mission-critical issues in both laboratory and field environments.
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This is a highly hands-on position suited for an engineer who enjoys complex system integration, rapid problem-solving, and working directly with unmanned aircraft.
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Key Responsibilities
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- Autonomy System Integration: Integrate autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft, ensuring reliable operation across onboard compute, sensors, control interfaces, and supporting hardware.
- Flight System Preparation: Own system build, configuration, integration, and validation activities required to prepare platforms for flight.
- Hardware/Software Integration: Ensure compatibility between autonomy software, embedded hardware, sensors, avionics, and other platform systems.
- Flight Test Support: Travel to test locations and support live flight operations, including system bring-up, safety checks, mission preparation, and real-time troubleshooting.
- System Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex hardware, software, networking, embedded-system, and autonomy-stack integration issues in laboratory and field environments.
- Flight Data & Analysis: Manage mission data collection and post-flight analysis, partnering with autonomy engineers to identify performance issues and improve system behavior.
- Cross-Functional Engineering: Collaborate with autonomy, Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC), systems engineering, hardware, and test teams to deliver and validate mission-critical capabilities.
- Integration Tools & Automation: Develop tools, automation, and processes that improve system testing, deployment timelines, data collection, and flight-test reliability.
- Certification & Compliance: Support documentation and system-level validation activities related to airworthiness, certification, and defense requirements.
- Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve integration processes, system reliability, and overall deployment efficiency.
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Required Qualifications
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- BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent practical experience may also be considered.
- Typically 7+ years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 5+ years with a Master’s degree, or 4+ years with a PhD, or equivalent professional experience.
- Strong programming skills in C++ and Python.
- Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
- Strong experience working in Linux-based development environments.
- Experience with embedded systems, shell scripting, and system diagnostics.
- Knowledge of sensor integration and sensor fusion.
- Experience with middleware frameworks such as ROS and/or DDS.
- Hands-on experience supporting flight demonstrations or live exercises.
- Experience with simulation and validation environments such as AFSIM and/or NGTS.
- Strong systems-level troubleshooting and performance optimization skills.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills with the ability to operate effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Ability to obtain a U.S. Secret security clearance.
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Preferred Qualifications
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- Direct experience with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or similar flight-test programs.
- Familiarity with autonomy stacks, flight-control systems, and/or GNC pipelines.
- Experience with sensor integration, electronics troubleshooting, avionics integration, or system bring-up.
- Experience developing automation tools for system testing, logging, diagnostics, and data parsing.
- Experience working directly with DoD customers or stakeholders during field events, demonstrations, or technical reviews.
- Experience with UCI and OMS standards.
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Travel
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Approximately 30–40% travel is expected to support customer sites, flight-test locations, other company facilities, and integration events.