Senior Software Engineer, Tactical Applications

Firestorm is a company on a mission to revolutionize defense solutions through innovative technologies. They are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to lead the development of mission-critical software for unmanned aerial systems, focusing on Ground Control Station applications and cross-platform tools that support tactical operations.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain the Ground Control Station (GCS) software suite using Qt 6/Qt Quick/QML and modern C++
• Build cross-platform Qt applications that operate seamlessly on Windows, Linux, and Android—including configuration, CI/CD, and deployment pipelines
• Extend and integrate open-source GCS frameworks (e.g., QGroundControl) to accelerate capability development while ensuring codebase modularity and clarity
• Interface with real-time telemetry systems and C2 protocols (e.g., MAVLink 2, STANAG 4586, Link 16, Cursor-on-Target) via QtNetwork, QSerialPort, and middleware layers
• Collaborate with avionics, autonomy, and payload teams to visualize live sensor data using Qt Charts, Qt Location, Qt Multimedia, and 3D frameworks
• Own the entire software development lifecycle: requirements, architecture, implementation, testing, release, and field deployment
• Continuously iterate on UI/UX based on feedback from operators, while ensuring the software meets MIL-STD security and reliability standards
• Write clear, maintainable documentation, interface specs, and training materials; mentor junior engineers and enforce code quality standards

Skills

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
• 5+ years of professional experience delivering Qt-based applications in modern C++ (C++14/17), with 3+ years focused on real-time or mission-critical systems
• Deep expertise in Qt (Qt Quick/QML, Qt Widgets, Qt Charts, Qt Multimedia) and architectural design patterns such as MVVM or MVC
• Proven cross-platform development experience: + Linux: CMake, AppImage/deb/rpm, systemd, Wayland/X11. + Windows: MSVC/MinGW, windeployqt, MSI/MSIX installers. + Android: Qt for Android, Gradle, JNI, APK signing
• Strong integration experience between C++ backend logic and QML front-ends; performance optimization for CPU/GPU-limited environments
• Proficient in networking and asynchronous programming (TCP/UDP, REST, WebSockets) within Qt
• Knowledge of secure coding practices and libraries (OpenSSL, libsodium), with experience designing secure-by-default systems
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills; capable of working autonomously on complex systems and collaborating across teams
• U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance
• Experience with QGroundControl (QGC): building, extending, or customizing plugins for new vehicle types or mission profiles
• Expertise in cross-platform and embedded development, including Yocto-based targets and constrained environments
• Familiarity with UAS communication protocols: MAVLink, STANAG 4586, OMNI, Link 16, Cursor-on-Target
• Knowledge of Qt test automation (Squish) and experience integrating unit, integration, and GUI tests into CI/CD pipelines
• CI/CD tooling experience with CMake, Conan/vcpkg, Jenkins, GitLab CI, and automated test frameworks (Catch2, Squish)
• Proficiency with geospatial visualization tools: Qt Location, Mapbox GL Native, OpenStreetMap
• Experience developing to military or aviation software standards (MIL-STD, DO-178C, etc.)
• Track record of mentoring developers, leading code reviews, and driving best practices in modern C++ (Clang-Tidy, Valgrind, Sanitizers)
• Deep understanding of low-level rendering in Qt (QSG/OpenGL, Qt Quick 3D) and performance tuning for sensor/3D visualizations
• Integration experience with middleware and robotics frameworks such as ROS 2 (rclcpp, DDS), ZeroMQ, or Protobuf
• Familiarity with embedded Linux development: cross-compilation, Yocto/Buildroot, and over-the-air (OTA) update mechanisms
• Knowledge of modern build systems like Bazel or Meson alongside CMake
• Practical field-test experience with manned or unmanned aerial platforms

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Unlimited PTO
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in December.
• Generous Parental Leave
• FSA
• HSA
• Hospital Indemnity insurance
• Critical Illness insurance
• Accident insurance
• Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.

Company Overview

• Firestorm develops AI-assisted, modular UAS platforms for adaptable and rapid remote operations. It was founded in 2022, and is headquartered in San Diego, California, USA, with a workforce of 51-200 employees. Its website is https://www.launchfirestorm.com.