Software Engineer Level II

Job Summary

Duties And Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, test, and maintain software supporting unmanned systems and associated mission capabilities.
• Develop software using C, C++, Python, and object oriented programming methodologies.
• Deliver reliable production software within an agile development environment.
• Develop and implement autonomous navigation and path planning capabilities for unmanned systems.
• Support waypoint navigation, geofencing, dynamic routing, obstacle avoidance, and collision detection capabilities.
• Develop algorithms and software solutions that enable unmanned systems to operate effectively in dynamic environments.
• Integrate navigation and mission planning capabilities with UxS flight control systems.
• Work with BetaFlight, ArduPilot, and PX4 flight control environments to develop, integrate, configure, test, and troubleshoot software capabilities.
• Develop and integrate software supporting ground control and mission management systems.
• Utilize QGroundControl for mission planning, mission execution, system monitoring, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Develop and maintain user interfaces using the Qt/QML framework.
• Develop software and system capabilities that allow operators to effectively interact with and control unmanned systems.
• Integrate and utilize MAVLink for communications between unmanned aircraft and ground control stations.
• Analyze and troubleshoot communication issues between UxS platforms, ground stations, sensors, and supporting systems.
• Develop Python scripts for automation, data analysis, testing, system configuration, and rapid prototyping.
• Apply data analysis techniques to identify system performance issues and improve software functionality.
• Develop and maintain software interfaces for sensors and other hardware components.
• Implement and support sensor fusion techniques using data from IMUs, GPS, cameras, LiDAR, and other sensors.
• Develop software that combines data from multiple sensors to improve situational awareness, navigation accuracy, and system performance.
• Support integration of software with embedded hardware and UxS components.
• Troubleshoot issues involving interactions between software, hardware, communications systems, and sensors.
• Apply strong knowledge of networking concepts, including TCP/IP protocols, to support UxS communications and distributed system architectures.
• Diagnose and resolve network communication issues affecting unmanned systems and associated ground infrastructure.
• Analyze existing software architectures and complex codebases to identify defects, performance issues, and opportunities for improvement.
• Parse and reverse engineer complex software codebases written in languages such as C, C++, and Python to identify subtle errors in data processing and communications.
• Trace data flows through hardware and software systems to identify the source of system failures.
• Perform software debugging, testing, integration, and validation activities.
• Develop and execute software tests to verify functionality and system performance.
• Support system integration testing involving flight software, sensors, communications systems, ground control software, and UxS hardware.
• Build target software completely from source files and verify successful compilation and functionality.
• Troubleshoot compiler issues, dependency problems, build errors, and other development environment issues.
• Utilize integrated development environments, compilers, debuggers, source control systems, and other software development tools.
• Review existing software and implement modifications based on technical requirements and system needs.
• Participate in software design reviews, code reviews, technical discussions, and system integration activities.
• Document software designs, technical approaches, testing procedures, configuration information, and system results.
• Collaborate with software engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, UxS technicians, operators, and other technical personnel.
• Support rapid development and iterative improvement of UxS software capabilities.
• Work independently while maintaining close coordination with technical and program leadership.
• Identify technical problems and develop practical software solutions to support mission requirements.
• Maintain a strong focus on software quality, reliability, maintainability, cybersecurity, and system performance.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Requirements

• Active Secret security clearance with TS/SCI eligibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or another applicable engineering or science field.
• Minimum of 3 years of hands on professional experience with a relevant degree or 7 years of hands on professional experience without a degree.
• Proficiency in C, C++, and object oriented software development methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver working production software within an agile development environment.
• Extensive knowledge of autonomous navigation and path planning techniques.
• Demonstrated experience with waypoint navigation, geofencing, dynamic routing, obstacle avoidance, and collision detection algorithms.
• Extensive knowledge of BetaFlight, ArduPilot, and PX4, with approximately 5 years of applicable experience preferred.
• Experience developing or integrating software for unmanned systems.
• Experience with sensor fusion techniques involving IMUs, GPS, cameras, LiDAR, or similar sensors.
• Experience working with ground control software such as QGroundControl for mission planning, execution, and monitoring.
• Experience with the Qt/QML framework for developing user friendly graphical interfaces.
• Familiarity with MAVLink for communications between UAVs and ground stations.
• Proficiency in Python scripting for automation, data analysis, testing, and prototyping.
• Strong understanding of data networking concepts, including TCP/IP protocols.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot network communication issues.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and reverse engineer complex codebases written in C, C++, Python, or similar languages.
• Experience identifying subtle software defects involving data processing and communications between hardware and software systems.
• Experience with CAD.
• Demonstrated ability to fully build target software from source files.
• Ability to troubleshoot software build, compilation, dependency, and configuration issues.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative engineering environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain all required customer and program access.

Preferred Skills And Education

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field.
• Five or more years of professional software engineering experience supporting unmanned systems, robotics, aerospace, defense, or other mission critical applications.
• Extensive experience developing software for autonomous unmanned systems.
• Advanced experience with ArduPilot, PX4, or BetaFlight.
• Strong experience developing autonomous navigation and path planning algorithms.
• Experience implementing obstacle avoidance and collision detection algorithms.
• Experience with advanced sensor fusion involving IMUs, GPS, cameras, LiDAR, radar, or other sensing technologies.
• Experience developing or modifying QGroundControl capabilities.
• Strong experience with Qt and QML application development.
• Experience developing software utilizing MAVLink.
• Experience with embedded software development and hardware integration.
• Experience troubleshooting software at the interface between embedded hardware, sensors, flight controllers, and communications systems.
• Experience with real time software development.
• Experience with Linux based software development environments.
• Experience with Git and other source control systems.
• Experience with build automation, continuous integration, and automated testing.
• Experience with CMake or similar build systems.
• Experience with network programming and distributed systems.
• Experience analyzing network traffic and diagnosing communications issues.
• Experience reverse engineering unfamiliar software systems and complex legacy codebases.
• Experience developing software that interfaces with multiple hardware and sensor systems.
• Experience developing mission planning, command and control, or autonomy software.
• Experience supporting U.S. Government, Department of Defense, aerospace, robotics, or UxS programs.
• Experience working in an agile software development environment.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of complex technical problems and drive them through resolution.
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn unfamiliar software architectures, hardware systems, and development environments.
• Strong technical documentation and communication skills.
• FAA Part 107 certification or UxS operational experience is a plus.

Benefits

• Health, Dental and Vision
• Short Term/Long Term Disability/Life Insurance/Workers Compensation
• Traditional and Roth 401k plan options
• Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay
• Department: UxS

Primary Location

• Virginia Beach, VA
• Job Type: Full Time
• Job Level: Individual Contributor