Senior Field Software Engineer, Advanced Missions sGroup

Work directly with operators and customers during discovery sessions, demonstrations, exercises, and field tests to understand mission problems and identify the smallest useful software solution.

Translate ambiguous or rapidly changing operational needs into clear software behaviors, interface requirements, test criteria, and short execution plans.

Design, build, modify, and deploy proof-of-concept software, scripts, middleware, interface adapters, data pipelines, and operator workflows that validate new mission capabilities.

Integrate third-party hardware and software, including payloads, sensors, communications systems, command-and-control tools, and vendor applications, using available APIs, SDKs, protocols, and data formats.

Troubleshoot across the full system in real time, including application behavior, Linux environments, network connectivity, configuration, logs, timing, data exchange, and hardware-software interfaces.

Make disciplined tradeoffs between speed, reliability, safety, and technical debt; define the operating limits of prototypes and avoid introducing unvalidated changes into safety-critical flight functions.

Conduct rapid test and iteration cycles with operators, capture feedback, and adjust software at the point of need when mission conditions or customer priorities change.

Create lightweight test tools, simulators, deployment packages, and repeatable development environments that make integrations easier to reproduce and demonstrate.

Document interfaces, assumptions, dependencies, known limitations, test results, and recommended next steps so successful prototypes can transition to product engineering.

Partner closely with AMG Solutions Engineering, Product, Autonomy, Embedded Software, Flight Operations, Mission Systems, and Go-to-Market teams.

Provide concise field reports and technical debriefs that distinguish confirmed findings from hypotheses and translate customer feedback into actionable engineering work.

Protect customer information and ensure all work complies with applicable safety, ITAR, export-control, cybersecurity, and operational-security requirements.

Experience with Qt and QML, Android development, or cross-platform operator applications.

Working knowledge of embedded Linux, cross-compilation, device interfaces, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Experience integrating sensors, payloads, video or telemetry systems, tactical radios, or edge-compute devices.

Experience using containers, continuous integration tools, automated testing, or infrastructure that supports repeatable field deployments.

This position operates across office, laboratory, manufacturing, flight-line, range, and customer field environments. Work may involve outdoor weather, noise, dust, limited connectivity, non-climate-controlled spaces, irregular schedules, and the use of personal protective equipment. The role requires frequent cross-functional collaboration as well as independent technical execution during travel and field events.

PDW is an equal opportunity employer that upholds all federal and state non-discrimination laws. We ensure a fair and unbiased evaluation for employment for all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, medical condition, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This position will have an annual salary, equity, and benefits. The salary range provided is a guideline rather than a fixed limit. Individual pay is determined by factors including geography, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Performance Drone Works (PDW) is building the next generation of tactical robotic systems used across defense, national security, and public safety missions. We are building a new center of engineering excellence to design our new category of tactical robotic systems and the industrial capacity to deliver them, bringing decisive airpower into the hands of every operator. We are not here to make promises; we are here to deliver real systems with real capabilities for real missions. You will join a team of operators, engineers, and builders who solve hard problems with humility and focus. We design and produce multi-mission aerial systems that operators trust to perform in real-world conditions, reliably, repeatedly, and at scale. Our approach is grounded in operator-centered design, rapid iteration from field use, and U.S.-based manufacturing. We operate by a clear set of values: Mission First, Aim Farther, Own It, Win Together. This is how we build advantage and how we help protect our service members, our communities, and our country.