Senior Software Engineer, Tactical Applications

Firestorm•San Diego, CA

1d•Remote

About The Position

We’re seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our Tactical Applications team and help shape the next generation of mission-critical software for unmanned aerial systems (UAS). In this high-impact role, you’ll lead the development of Ground Control Station (GCS) applications that power the Firestorm UAS platform, along with cross-platform and mobile tools that support real-time tactical operations. Whether you're working remotely or based out of our San Diego headquarters, you’ll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to build robust, intuitive, and secure software used in real defense missions. Your work will directly support warfighters in the field, combining modern C++ and the Qt framework to deliver sensor integration, autonomy, and command and control capabilities. This is a unique opportunity to apply enterprise-grade engineering to national security and contribute to a mission that matters.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
5+ years of professional experience delivering Qt-based applications in modern C++ (C++14/17), with 3+ years focused on real-time or mission-critical systems.
Deep expertise in Qt (Qt Quick/QML, Qt Widgets, Qt Charts, Qt Multimedia) and architectural design patterns such as MVVM or MVC.
Proven cross-platform development experience: Linux: CMake, AppImage/deb/rpm, systemd, Wayland/X11. Windows: MSVC/MinGW, windeployqt, MSI/MSIX installers. Android: Qt for Android, Gradle, JNI, APK signing.
Strong integration experience between C++ backend logic and QML front-ends; performance optimization for CPU/GPU-limited environments.
Proficient in networking and asynchronous programming (TCP/UDP, REST, WebSockets) within Qt.
Knowledge of secure coding practices and libraries (OpenSSL, libsodium), with experience designing secure-by-default systems.
Excellent problem-solving and communication skills; capable of working autonomously on complex systems and collaborating across teams.
U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience with QGroundControl (QGC): building, extending, or customizing plugins for new vehicle types or mission profiles.
Expertise in cross-platform and embedded development, including Yocto-based targets and constrained environments.
Familiarity with UAS communication protocols: MAVLink, STANAG 4586, OMNI, Link 16, Cursor-on-Target.
Knowledge of Qt test automation (Squish) and experience integrating unit, integration, and GUI tests into CI/CD pipelines.
CI/CD tooling experience with CMake, Conan/vcpkg, Jenkins, GitLab CI, and automated test frameworks (Catch2, Squish).
Proficiency with geospatial visualization tools: Qt Location, Mapbox GL Native, OpenStreetMap.
Experience developing to military or aviation software standards (MIL-STD, DO-178C, etc.).
Track record of mentoring developers, leading code reviews, and driving best practices in modern C++ (Clang-Tidy, Valgrind, Sanitizers).
Deep understanding of low-level rendering in Qt (QSG/OpenGL, Qt Quick 3D) and performance tuning for sensor/3D visualizations.
Integration experience with middleware and robotics frameworks such as ROS 2 (rclcpp, DDS), ZeroMQ, or Protobuf.
Familiarity with embedded Linux development: cross-compilation, Yocto/Buildroot, and over-the-air (OTA) update mechanisms.
Knowledge of modern build systems like Bazel or Meson alongside CMake.
Practical field-test experience with manned or unmanned aerial platforms.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and maintain the Ground Control Station (GCS) software suite using Qt 6/Qt Quick/QML and modern C++.
Build cross-platform Qt applications that operate seamlessly on Windows, Linux, and Android—including configuration, CI/CD, and deployment pipelines.
Extend and integrate open-source GCS frameworks (e.g., QGroundControl) to accelerate capability development while ensuring codebase modularity and clarity.
Interface with real-time telemetry systems and C2 protocols (e.g., MAVLink 2, STANAG 4586, Link 16, Cursor-on-Target) via QtNetwork, QSerialPort, and middleware layers.
Collaborate with avionics, autonomy, and payload teams to visualize live sensor data using Qt Charts, Qt Location, Qt Multimedia, and 3D frameworks.
Own the entire software development lifecycle: requirements, architecture, implementation, testing, release, and field deployment.
Continuously iterate on UI/UX based on feedback from operators, while ensuring the software meets MIL-STD security and reliability standards.
Write clear, maintainable documentation, interface specs, and training materials; mentor junior engineers and enforce code quality standards.

Benefits

We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
Unlimited PTO
Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in December.
Generous Parental Leave
FSA
HSA
Hospital Indemnity insurance
Critical Illness insurance
Accident insurance
Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.