Flight Software Engineer – Command & Control

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.

About The Role

We are seeking a Software Engineer to join our Command & Control team in Atlanta. The team is responsible for the design, development, integration, testing, and delivery of software supporting Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), Pilot Vehicle Interfaces (PVI), Command & Control (C2), telemetry, and vehicle communications.

This role will focus primarily on the embedded flight software and networking that enable communication between our aircraft and ground control systems. You will develop software supporting command and control, telemetry, network management, RF communications, and vehicle data links while working closely with avionics, RF, flight software, and ground systems engineers.

This is not a traditional voice communications role. You will work on the software and network infrastructure that allow an air vehicle and ground control station to reliably exchange commands, telemetry, and other mission-critical data.

The ideal candidate is comfortable moving between embedded C/C++ development, network and communications system design, and hands-on testing with target hardware. You will have ownership across both the vehicle and ground sides of the communications network and will help take systems from initial architecture through integration and flight operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain embedded C/C++ software supporting aircraft communications, telemetry, Command & Control, and vehicle data links.
• Design and implement software that enables reliable communication between aircraft and ground control systems.
• Own and support networking functionality across both vehicle and ground-based systems.
• Develop software interfaces for radios, transmitters, receivers, and other communications hardware.
• Integrate and troubleshoot RF communications systems in collaboration with RF and avionics engineers.
• Develop and maintain network management functionality including Ethernet, TCP/UDP, multicast, and related networking protocols.
• Develop software requirements, system architectures, interface definitions, and technical design documentation.
• Participate in software and system design reviews and communicate technical tradeoffs across multidisciplinary teams.
• Collaborate with hardware, avionics, RF, GNC, systems, and ground station engineers to ensure seamless hardware and software integration.
• Test and debug software on target hardware, including Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), laboratory, and integrated hardware environments.
• Develop and execute system-level tests to verify communications performance and reliability.
• Support integration, troubleshooting, and testing of aircraft and ground station communications systems.
• Write efficient, maintainable, well-documented software that meets performance and safety requirements.
• Participate in the development and verification of safety-critical software.
• Own technical schedules and roadmaps for assigned software and communications capabilities.
• Support flight test and range operations as required.
• Travel up to approximately 25% to support integration and test activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Professional experience developing embedded software in C and/or C++.
• Strong understanding of software fundamentals including memory management, pointers, references, and object-oriented programming.
• Experience developing, debugging, and testing software that interfaces with hardware.
• Familiarity with networked or distributed systems and common communications concepts.
• Experience working in Linux-based software development environments.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot complex software and hardware integration issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively across software, hardware, and systems engineering teams.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and developing or testing software on target hardware.
• Experience with aircraft, spacecraft, robotics, autonomous vehicles, defense systems, or other embedded platforms.
• Experience with vehicle communications, telemetry, Command & Control, or data-link systems.
• Experience with aerospace telemetry standards or protocols such as CCSDS or IRIG.
• Experience with serial communications, CAN, Ethernet, TCP, UDP, or similar protocols.
• Experience with multicast networking, including IGMPv3, Source-Specific Multicast (SSM), or related technologies.
• Experience interfacing software with radios, particularly Software Defined Radios (SDRs).
• Experience writing software used to configure, command, monitor, or control RF communications hardware.
• Familiarity with RF communications concepts and troubleshooting communications links across software and hardware.
• Experience with satellite communications, cellular communications, or other wireless data-link technologies.
• Understanding of network management concepts including VLANs, firewalls, routing, and network configuration.
• Familiarity with routing protocols such as OSPF or BGP.
• Experience with networking platforms such as Ubiquiti, Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, or similar systems.
• Familiarity with safety-critical software development processes such as DO-178C or equivalent.
• Experience with GitLab or similar source control and CI/CD tooling.
• Experience developing and executing system-level tests, simulations, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Experience working in a fast-paced development environment where engineers own systems from initial design through integration and test.

The salary range listed for this role is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope and responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, market data, and business needs.

At Hermeus, compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. We offer competitive pay, equity, and a range of benefits designed to support our team.

Benefits

• Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid healthcare and pet insurance
• Financial: Competitive pay, stock options, 401(k) retirement plan, and potential year-end bonuses
• Time Off: Paid parental leave, 12 federal holidays, unlimited PTO for exempt employees, and generous accrued PTO for non-exempt employees
• Office Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakrooms

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Hermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

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