Staff Software Engineer

Company Overview Performance Drone Works (PDW) builds technologies for the warfighter, by the warfighter. Born out of the Drone Racing League, our roots are competitive, our mindset is tactical, and our mission is clear: deliver purpose-built unmanned systems to those who serve. We are not here to sell vapor; we build and ship real capabilities for real missions.

Now, we're entering a new phase of growth and are looking for an experienced Staff Software engineer to join our team, contributing to the next wave of system and tool development for our upcoming product lines. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in building the systems that integrate with our deployment environments, crafting specialized tools for engineering research, and supporting new technologies that aid towards the advancement of sUAS functional systems. This position will report to the Director of Applications Software

What You'll Do

• Lead the full software development lifecycle-from concept and architecture through implementation, testing, deployment, and optimization-delivering reliable, scalable, and production-grade software solutions for autonomous aerial systems.
• Architect and design complex, multi-component systems, integrating onboard software, mission-control applications to support seamless sUAS operations.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with hardware, flight control, and product teams to define and deliver robust, mission-critical software aligned with business and operational objectives.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across engineering teams, promoting best practices in design, code quality, and systems architecture.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement, advancing capabilities in autonomy, sensor integration, communication, and real-time data processing.
• Take ownership of high-impact technical initiatives, developing and optimizing key components such as telemetry systems, control interfaces, and communication protocols.
• Lead and support software deployments and field operations, including flight testing, live demonstrations, and in-field troubleshooting of mission-critical systems.
• Champion engineering excellence, conducting thorough code and design reviews to ensure performance, reliability, safety, and maintainability across all software layers.
• Influence the company's long-term technical strategy and architecture, ensuring alignment between product development and scalable, secure system design.
• Collaborate on system-level performance, safety, and security initiatives, proactively identifying risks and implementing solutions to ensure robust operation in real-world environments.

Requirements

• Expert-level proficiency in C++, with deep understanding of modern standards, performance optimization, and memory management for real-time and embedded systems.
• Extensive experience developing and architecting applications using Qt and QML, with a focus on cross-platform user interfaces and mission control systems.
• Proven ability to design, build, and maintain complex software architectures involving real-time data processing, sensor fusion, and system-level communication.
• Strong understanding of multi-platform development, including deployment to Linux, Windows, and embedded environments used in unmanned systems.
• Hands-on experience with build tools and toolchains, such as CMake, QMake, and modern CI/CD pipelines for automated testing and deployment.
• Proficiency in integrating remote data and control systems using RESTful APIs, JSON, and custom network communication protocols.
• Experience developing for Embedded Linux and/or Android platforms, including optimization for hardware-constrained environments.
• Deep understanding of software reliability, safety, and security principles as applied to mission-critical and autonomous systems.
• Proficiency with Git-based workflows and issue tracking tools (e.g., GitLab, GitHub, Jira), including release management and code review processes.
• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or a related field-or equivalent hands-on experience in aerospace or autonomous systems development.

Preferred

• Background or hands-on experience with UAVs, aircraft, robotics, or hobby drones.
• Familiarity with sUAS operational environments, including the dependencies between flight software, firmware, hardware, and networked control infrastructure.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, climb, and move about regularly throughout the day and lift / carry up to 25 pounds. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment as well as various electronic power supplies and test equipment. Must be physically capable of the assigned duties.

Work Environment

This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office and manufacturing equipment and may require occasional travel to customer locations or facilities. This position may have exposure to outdoor weather conditions, noise, and non-climate-controlled environments. May require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the environment. This is a fast-paced work environment and requires cross-differential collaboration with independent and team-based responsibilities. Standard work hours for this position are 8:30am-5:00pm with occasional overtime as operational needs demand..

ITAR Requirement

In compliance with International Traffic Arms Regulations (ITAR), candidates must be U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) or individuals granted asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Compensation and Benefits