Mission Autonomy Lead - Thunder

Responsibilities

• Own the autonomy software architecture covering planning, execution, perception, and mission debrief.
• Design mission-planning systems and mission-execution software for autonomous aviation operations.
• Develop perception systems that sense and interpret the vehicle’s environment.
• Build mission-debrief capabilities for post-mission analysis and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain software development infrastructure, including simulation and SITL/HITL capabilities.
• Define autonomy-stack interfaces with the vehicle management system using MOSA principles.
• Manage autonomy deliverables across development phases, including SysML models and requirements traceability.
• Provide technical mentorship to software and systems engineers.
• Develop test and simulation fixtures for autonomy validation.
• Represent the autonomy subsystem in technical and customer meetings and coordinate integration with Mission Systems and Vehicle Systems.
• Travel up to 25% to test sites and customer locations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's, master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.
• 8+ years of experience in autonomous systems, robotics, or AI/ML.
• Experience delivering software through full product development cycles.
• Demonstrated experience with autonomous navigation, planning, or perception systems.
• Experience with modeling, simulation, and SITL/HITL testing.
• Experience developing safety-critical or high-assurance software.
• Proficiency in C++ and/or Python for real-time and mission-critical software systems.
• Experience with Linux-based embedded or real-time operating systems.
• Experience with version control and CI/CD tooling such as Git, Jenkins, or GitLab CI.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.
• Preferred experience with autonomous aviation systems, including UAS, UAV, or manned-unmanned teaming.
• Preferred knowledge of behavior trees, mission-planning frameworks, computer vision, EO/IR sensor processing, airborne perception, distributed architectures, edge computing, MOSA/WOSA, MBSE, and digital engineering.
• Preferred familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, aviation simulation environments, real-time middleware, cross-compilation, NVIDIA Jetson, static analysis, formal verification, and MISRA C++ or DO-178C-adjacent practices.

Benefits

• Full-time employees receive comprehensive competitive benefits available at little to no cost.
• The role is based at the Costa Mesa, California office.
• The position includes up to 25% travel to test sites and customer locations.
• Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers.