Principal Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

Huntsville, AL. Onsite.

A fast-growing aerospace and defense company working on directed energy and space domain awareness. It was founded in the last few years and is already past 100 people across several US sites. The Huntsville team builds high energy laser systems that take down drone threats.

This is the lead software seat in Huntsville. It’s around 75% hands-on engineering and 25% leadership. You’ll own the embedded controls, comms and safety software behind laser weapon systems, work on real hardware test beds, and grow the team around you.

What you will be doing

• Lead the communication, controls and safety software for high energy laser weapon systems
• Build embedded, real-time controls software that talks directly to hardware
• Integrate software with sensors, tracking, beam control and weapon subsystems
• Own a structured test approach, from verification and validation through to field testing
• Lead software safety reviews and keep systems compliant for classified C2 networks
• Use AI-assisted dev tools to move faster without dropping the quality bar
• Mentor the Huntsville engineers and help drive the move to Rust

What you will bring

• 5+ years in software engineering, ideally closer to 10
• Strong embedded C and C++ on real-time and control systems
• Hardware/software integration experience, with some exposure to PCB and board design
• A sophisticated, structured approach to testing
• Openness to AI tools like Claude Code or Codex
• A track record of taking projects from start to finish, and the soft skills to lead engineers
• A background in defense, aerospace, commercial space or automotive real-time controls
• Eligibility to obtain a US security clearance. Rust and an active clearance are a bonus

Why join

• A mission that matters: protecting people and assets from drone threats
• The lead software seat in a growing site, with real ownership
• Real hardware, in the lab and in the field
• Modern engineering, with a Rust migration underway and AI tools encouraged
• 100% of medical, dental and vision premiums covered for you and your family
• A 401(k) with a 100% match up to 5%, profit sharing and relocation support

ITAR: This role is subject to US export control regulations. Applicants must be US citizens.