Ground Station Software Engineer (Staff to Senior Staff)

UAS Ground Station Software Engineer

WORK LOCATION: Chantilly VA or East Coast Remote

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

SALARY RANGE: The anticipated salary range for this role is $148,000 to $215,000 annually. This range reflects a good faith estimate based on the targeted level for the role and typical compensation benchmarks across U.S. locations. Actual compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, geographical location, and internal alignment.

SUMMARY

Redwire Defense Tech is seeking an experienced UAS ground station software engineer to expand the capabilities of the Ground Control Station (GCS) that operates multiple edge autonomy aircraft. You will be writing code for the primary interface between the human user and the aircraft. It must be simple to use, mission focused, and assure flight safety. Your code will enable users to monitor health and status of the aircraft and manage vehicle flight paths to meet their mission objectives while balancing aircraft performance constraints, airspace constraints, dynamic weather conditions, datalink limitations, threat avoidance, and coordination with external entities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The following job functions are a basic requirement but are not limited to and may be assigned other duties.

• Design and write code to expand the capabilities of the Ground Control Station (GCS)
• Work on a small team that handles all aspects of Ground Station Development including the Graphical User Interface (GUI), algorithm development, and the communications interface to the aircraft
• Coordinate with operational users and the flight test team to respond to emerging operator needs and identify opportunities to expand the capabilities of the GCS software to reduce operator workload, increase mission success, and maximize flight safety

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The following are a non-exhaustive list of qualifications for the position:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 10–15 years of professional software engineering experience.
• Proven track record as a technical leader for large-scale, multi-program software systems.
• Experience defining architecture and long-term evolution of mission-critical applications.
• Significant experience integrating with avionics, autonomy, GNC, or ground control systems.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor senior-level engineers and lead complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Expert level proficiency in one or more of: TypeScript, C++, Python, C#, or other object-oriented languages used in aerospace application development.
• Mastery of real-time data handling, networked systems, and UAV control protocols, including STANAG 4586, MAVLink, DDS, 1337-A or comparable data link and middleware standards.
• Experience with modern web UI frameworks such as React, Angular, Vue, or equivalent expertise in desktop application development frameworks such as WPF, Qt, or WinForms.
• Extensive experience designing modular architectures, interface standards, and enterprise-level software frameworks.
• Strong understanding of system-level constraints involving avionics, autonomy, mission planning, and operator workflows.
• High proficiency with DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and configuration / version control best practices.
• Exceptional systems thinking and architectural leadership.
• Strong ability to influence executives, technical leaders, and program direction.
• Highly effective cross-functional communicator who thrives in complex, multi-team environments.
• Demonstrated ability to foresee technical challenges and design durable, long-range solutions.
• Strong capability in mentoring, knowledge transfer, and engineering culture-building.
• Operational awareness with strong empathy for operator needs and mission use-cases.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• M.S. in CS, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Human-Computer Interaction, or related field preferred.
• Leadership experience guiding multi-year, multi-platform software evolution.
• Experience supporting flight operations, ground system integration, SIL/HIL workflows, or mission operations.
• Experience working in aerospace, defense, or safety-critical environments with regulatory or certification constraints.
• Strong experience with desktop application platforms (Electron) and server-side runtimes (Node.js), as well as containerized infrastructure (Docker, Docker Compose).
• UI/UX experience designing and implementing operator interfaces using HTML/CSS via frameworks and component libraries such as Tailwind CSS, Bootstrap, Material UI, Shadcn; familiarity with responsive design principles.
• Experience with geospatial and web mapping concepts, including tile formats, projections, and real-time overlay rendering, using libraries and tools such as MapLibre GL, Mapbox, deck.gl, ArcGIS, or QGIS; advanced knowledge of geospatial data formats and terrain/elevation processing.
• Experience with streaming video integration, including MPEG-TS containerization, H.264/H.265 codecs, and KLV metadata extraction.
• Experience designing extensible plugin architectures that support long-term system growth and multi-platform capability evolution, grounded in software design patterns such as dependency injection/IoC.
• Deep familiarity with STANAG 4586 or comparable UAV/UAS control data link protocols at the message encoding level.
• Deep knowledge of web protocols and browser platform capabilities, including WebSocket, WebRTC, Web Workers, WebAssembly, and Electron IPC/context-bridge patterns.
• Experience configuring reverse proxies and ingress controllers such as Nginx or similar for routing, WebSocket upgrades, and static asset delivery.
• Experience with large-scale performance optimization, telemetry analysis frameworks, or reliability engineering.
• Ability to influence multi-site engineering alignment and enterprise direction.
• Strong customer- and operator-facing presence, capable of representing engineering in technical discussions.
• Demonstrated leadership in shaping engineering standards, culture, and long-term capability development

REDWIRE DEFENSE TECH BENEFITS

• Matching 401(k)
• Paid PTO
• Paid holidays
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Group Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• HSA and FSA Options
• Critical Care Plan
• Accident Care Plan

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

This position may require access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). To comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants will be asked to provide specific documentation to verify a US person's status under the ITAR and the EAR.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The work environment may involve a standard office setting while also incorporating elements of a production area. Employees will use standard office equipment, including computers, and must demonstrate stamina to sit or stand while maintaining attention to detail despite potential interruptions. The role may require occasional activities such as walking, climbing, stooping, crouching, and bending. Vision is necessary for reading printed materials and a computer screen, while hearing and speech are essential for effective communication both in person and over the telephone. Additionally, the position may necessitate travel by air or automobile. Employees may be required to use personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, safety shoes, and shop coats, to ensure safety in the production environment. Employees may be able to lift up to 30 pounds as needed.

REDWIRE DEFENSE TECH IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Redwire Defense Tech is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Human Resources. Continued employment remains on an "At-Will" basis.