Lead Software Engineer, Frontend/Web App

About the role

Lead Frontend Engineer, Aviation Safety Platform

About the Team

Beacon AI is a collaborative group of aviators, engineers, and operators dedicated to advancing aviation through intelligent systems. We build mission-critical technology backed by leading investors and trusted by multiple Department of Defense partners and major airlines. Our culture rejects rigid hierarchies in favor of small, focused teams that own their work completely. We move quickly, iterate based on real-world feedback, and explore the frontier of human-AI collaboration in high-stakes environments.

The Opportunity

We are searching for a Lead Frontend Engineer to provide technical vision and execution excellence for our core frontend organization. In this capacity, you will architect and deliver high-impact user interfaces that bring clarity to complex aviation data. Your work will directly empower users to interact with critical operational information, driving better decision-making in safety-critical contexts. You will shape the frontend architecture, influence product direction, and contribute to meaningful advancements in aviation safety and capability.

Primary Responsibilities

You will be responsible for designing and implementing robust React-based interfaces that serve as the primary link between complex aviation data and the users who depend on it. Your technical leadership will ensure that large-scale, real-time and historical datasets are presented with precision and clarity.

• Architecting frontend systems that manage high-volume, real-time and historical aviation data with resilience and speed.
• Building and integrating data visualization components that translate raw streams and archived records into intuitive maps, diagrams, and metrics.
• Leading code quality through rigorous reviews, establishing architectural patterns, and promoting best practices across the frontend team.
• Partnering closely with backend engineers, product managers, and UX/UI designers to refine requirements and deliver technically sound solutions.
• Implementing comprehensive testing strategies and documentation to ensure frontend reliability as our platform scales.
• Creating and maintaining shared component libraries and internal tools to accelerate development on future aviation initiatives.
• Driving performance optimization efforts to maintain responsive and reliable dashboards, even under intense data loads.

Keys to Success in This Role

To thrive here, you must bring a proven track record of delivering sophisticated, user-facing web applications. Your expertise should span the full stack of modern frontend development, with a command of React, TypeScript, and JavaScript.

• Demonstrate five or more years of experience deploying high-performance, user-facing web applications in production.
• Show deep mastery of React, TypeScript, JavaScript, state management, and contemporary web standards for HTML and CSS.
• Exhibit fluency in asynchronous programming patterns and the efficient handling of continuous data streams and historical playback.
• Have a history of owning complex product features from initial ideation through successful delivery with minimal supervision.
• Operate with agility and comfort in fast-paced, ambiguous environments where clear judgment is essential.
• Instill confidence through a commitment to code quality, active mentorship, and thoughtful contribution to hiring decisions.
• Use data and experimentation to identify and resolve interface bottlenecks, enhancing scalability and reliability over time.

Additional Areas of Interest

• A genuine passion for aviation and a commitment to improving the safety and efficiency of air travel.
• Familiarity with geospatial visualization tools such as Mapbox or Cesium.
• Hands-on experience with live data streaming infrastructures and historical playback mechanisms.
• Background in video streaming technologies and real-time media delivery platforms.

Work Location and Compensation

This is a hybrid position based in San Carlos, California. The schedule requires a minimum of three days onsite per week, with flexibility for remote work on other days.

Compensation for this role ranges from $190,000 to $230,000 per year, reflecting the scope and impact of the position.

Perks & Benefits for Full-Time Employees

• Healthcare: 100% coverage of employee medical premiums, with 25% coverage for dependents.
• Time Off: Three weeks of paid time off plus over 13 company holidays.
• Stipends: Monthly allowances for phone and wellness expenses.
• Retirement: 401(k) plan available, with a commitment to enhancing this benefit in the future.

Compliance and Equal Opportunity

Due to U.S. export control regulations, we are currently able to hire only U.S. Persons, which includes U.S. citizens, Green Card holders, lawful permanent residents, and individuals granted asylum or refugee status. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support visa transfers. All job duties must be performed within the United States.

Beacon AI is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We maintain a workplace free from harassment and discrimination and adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.