Director of Software Engineering

Director of Software Engineering

Torrance, CA

Position Summary

FlightWave Aerospace, a subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings, is seeking a Director of Software Engineering to lead the development of the software systems powering our next generation of autonomous VTOL unmanned aircraft.

This role combines deep technical leadership with organizational development, overseeing the architecture, development, and scaling of FlightWave's robotics software stack across embedded systems, autonomy, perception, and platform infrastructure.

The Director of Software Engineering will be responsible for building and leading a growing team of software engineers, shaping technical direction across multiple programs, and establishing the organizational structure required to support rapid product development and scaled production.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role. The ideal candidate is a software architect who has successfully scaled engineering teams from early-stage development groups into mature, multi-team organizations while maintaining strong technical ownership of system architecture and software quality.

FlightWave develops unmanned aircraft systems for defense, public safety, and government security applications. Our platforms combine advanced robotics software with high-performance edge compute systems, enabling autonomous mission execution in demanding operational environments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Architecture

• Own the technical architecture of FlightWave's robotics software stack across embedded firmware, flight software, autonomy, perception, and edge compute systems
• Guide the evolution of software systems supporting current and future VTOL UAS platforms
• Establish scalable software architecture and engineering standards across multiple teams and products
• Provide hands-on technical leadership through architecture reviews, design guidance, and engineering mentorship
• Work closely with hardware and systems engineering teams to ensure robust hardware/software integration

Organizational Development & Team Scaling

• Build and scale FlightWave's internal software engineering organization as the company grows from a small team into a multi-team software group
• Recruit, hire, and develop high-performing software engineers across multiple disciplines including embedded systems, autonomy, and platform software
• Develop and mentor technical leads and future engineering managers within the organization
• Establish team structures, ownership boundaries, and development processes that enable rapid iteration while maintaining system reliability
• Build a leadership bench capable of supporting multiple concurrent programs with increasing independence

Program Execution

• Partner with program management, product leadership, and systems engineering to deliver complex software systems on aggressive timelines
• Ensure software systems are designed for reliability, maintainability, and rapid iteration across flight test cycles
• Establish development workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and testing frameworks that support both research iteration and production-quality software

External Engineering & Vendor Integration

• Manage relationships with external software contractors and engineering firms supporting FlightWave programs
• Ensure externally developed software components integrate cleanly with internal architecture and meet quality standards
• Coordinate internal and external engineering resources to scale development capacity during periods of rapid program growth

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field
• 12+ years of professional software engineering experience
• 5+ years leading or managing software engineering teams
• Demonstrated experience scaling engineering organizations from small teams into multi-team software groups
• Strong background in robotics, embedded systems, or autonomous platforms
• Expert-level software architecture experience across complex distributed or real-time systems
• Strong proficiency in C++ and modern systems programming environments
• Experience developing software for hardware-integrated systems such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, or aerospace platforms
• Working understanding of control systems and sensor fusion concepts (e.g., state estimation, flight control loops) sufficient to guide system architecture, make tradeoff decisions, and collaborate effectively with autonomy and flight control engineers
• Experience incorporating AI-assisted development tools into engineering workflows to improve productivity, code quality, and iteration speed
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, mentor, and develop high-performing engineering teams
• Proven experience coordinating internal teams with external contractors or engineering vendors

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Experience with robotics or autonomous systems software stacks (PX4, ROS2, MAVLink, etc.)
• Experience developing software for unmanned aircraft systems or aerospace platforms
• Familiarity with edge computing platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson or Qualcomm systems
• Experience leading software organizations supporting complex electromechanical products
• Background in mission-critical or regulated environments
• Experience with CMMC compliance

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Must be able to walk, stand, and navigate large indoor and outdoor facilities for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move materials and equipment weighing up to 25 lbs on a regular basis.
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required in designated areas or when performing specific tasks, in accordance with safety protocols and company policy.
• May be required to climb ladders, stoop, kneel, or crouch during inspections, maintenance walk-throughs, or emergency response situations.
• Regular exposure to facility operations including noise, dust, temperature fluctuations, and industrial equipment.
• Occasional off-hours or weekend work required for emergency facility responses or projects as needed
• Requires frequent use of a computer and other standard office equipment for documentation, communication, and coordination tasks.

Background Check

This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with a criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal and state law.

Compensation: $176k – $205k, plus generous annual equity package and potential bonuses.