Senior Engineer, Software Embedded Applications

About the role

You will architect and implement low-level C++ software components that drive the core functionality of the X-BAT unmanned aerial vehicle. In this capacity, you will own the full lifecycle of embedded software modules from initial architectural design through rigorous verification and field deployment. You will collaborate daily with electrical engineers, GNC specialists, systems engineers, and autonomy experts to translate high-level mission requirements into deterministic embedded behaviors. You will be responsible for ensuring that resource-constrained hardware executes complex navigation and control algorithms with predictable timing and absolute reliability. You will apply your expertise in modern aerospace sensor interfaces to integrate cutting-edge payloads into a resilient software framework. You will contribute to the development and maintenance of simulation and synthetic reality tools that validate embedded performance before flight. You will champion best practices in safety-critical development, debugging, and traceability to meet stringent defense standards. You will mentor junior engineers and elevate the team's engineering rigor through code reviews, technical design discussions, and knowledge sharing.

Key facts

What you'll do

Design and develop embedded software modules in C++ for X-BAT avionics, focusing on high-performance, low-latency execution.

Implement drivers and abstraction layers for aerospace sensors and avionics hardware to enable seamless data acquisition and processing.

Collaborate with electrical engineers to analyze system schematics, define power profiles, and optimize firmware for strict energy budgets.

Partner with Guidance, Navigation, and Controls engineers to integrate flight dynamics algorithms into real-time embedded firmware.

Conduct rigorous unit testing, static analysis, and fault injection testing to validate software robustness under adverse conditions.

Instrument software with telemetry and diagnostic hooks to support in-field debugging and performance monitoring during flight tests.

Optimize memory usage, processing throughput, and thermal characteristics to meet the constraints of embedded platforms.

Maintain and evolve software architecture documentation to ensure clarity, traceability, and long-term maintainability.

Participate in code reviews, design reviews, and integration tests to uphold a high standard of software quality and reliability.

Support continuous integration pipelines by developing regression tests, build scripts, and verification harnesses for embedded components.

Work within agile development cycles to deliver incremental software improvements aligned with mission milestones and customer needs.

Engage with simulation and synthetic reality tools to validate embedded behavior in virtual environments before hardware deployment.

Apply safety-critical development practices, including requirements tracing, error handling, and defensive programming techniques.

Communicate technical trade-offs and implementation status clearly to both engineering teams and program stakeholders.

Requirements

Must have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Must possess extensive professional experience developing software in C++ for embedded systems in demanding operational environments.

Must demonstrate a strong understanding of real-time operating systems, interrupt handling, and low-level hardware interfacing.

Must have experience with aerospace, defense, or industrial control systems where reliability and safety are paramount.

Must be proficient in debugging complex software issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and embedded debuggers.

Must have a proven track record of writing high-integrity software that meets strict timing, reliability, and performance constraints.

Must be comfortable reading and interpreting electrical schematics, datasheets, and communication protocol specifications.

Must be able to obtain and maintain U.S. government security clearance, requiring U.S. citizenship.

Nice to have

Experience with simulation and synthetic reality tools used for avionics verification and training scenarios.

Familiarity with UAV flight stacks, sensor fusion algorithms, and autonomy pipelines.

Knowledge of DO-178C or similar safety-critical software standards and development processes.

Experience with model-based design tools, code generators, or hardware-in-the-loop test setups.

Practical notes

This role is based in Boston, Massachusetts, and requires physical presence in the office.

U.S. citizenship is required to meet Shieldai's obligations for U.S. government contracts.

Employment is at-will and is contingent upon successful completion of background checks and security clearance processing.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and not require sponsorship for employment authorization now or in the future.

The position demands frequent collaboration with cross-functional teams across software, electrical, and systems engineering disciplines.