Lead Flight Software Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Torrance, California, United States

Company

hirify.global develops advanced defense systems and builds integrated hardware–software capabilities at an early stage of company growth.

What you will do

• Define flight software architecture, design patterns, module interfaces, and long-term technical direction with the Head of Flight Software.
• Design, implement, and integrate embedded software for Linux-based and real-time systems, including hands-on debugging, hardware bring-up, and system validation.
• Own complex subsystems and major initiatives affecting vehicle capability, autonomy, performance, and reliability from concept through flight testing.
• Lead integration across virtualized environments, hardware-in-the-loop systems, and full vehicle setups while driving root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Mentor embedded software engineers, review designs and code, coordinate milestones, and represent the team in cross-functional technical and program discussions.
• Improve engineering standards, testing rigor, documentation, design reviews, and software quality across the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics, or a related STEM field.
• 7+ years of professional experience in embedded software or real-time systems.
• Strong proficiency in C++, Rust, or a similar systems programming language.
• Experience with Linux-based embedded platforms, including kernel-level work or custom UART, I2C, and SPI driver development.
• Experience leading technical projects, architecting complex systems, or serving as a technical or team lead.
• Strong debugging skills across hardware and software boundaries.

Nice to have

• Experience in defense, aerospace, robotics, automotive, or another high-performance hardware–software organization.
• Experience with real-time systems, ARM, PowerPC, x86 microcontrollers, and distributed embedded architectures.
• Strong knowledge of Linux internals, performance tuning, networking, and system-level diagnostics.
• Experience mentoring engineers, running design reviews, aligning multidisciplinary teams, and influencing system-wide decisions.
• Ability to rapidly prototype, evaluate tradeoffs, and validate ideas using first-principles thinking.

Culture & Benefits

• Generous benefits package.
• High-ownership environment focused on rapid iteration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Opportunity to work closely with avionics, guidance, hardware, simulation, and test teams.
• Support for integration and launch activities at test sites when necessary.
• Some roles may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information, along with applicable security clearance, citizenship, or other eligibility requirements.
• Employment is contingent on the ability to access applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing.