Chief Engineer, Autonomous Flight
$220,000–$330,000 year
On-siteCosta Mesa, California, United States
Job Summary
Lead systems engineering, requirements decomposition, and technical architecture for software-heavy robotics systems, guiding lean teams from concept to deployment. Oversee hardware/software integration and testing across simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, and field environments to ensure perception, motion planning, and task allocation algorithms run seamlessly on physical platforms. Partner with Product Managers and Business Development to convert customer mission needs into concrete technical milestones, deciding trade-offs across concurrent programs. Requires a BS, MS, or PhD in Robotics, Aerospace, EE, or CS, with experience in autonomous systems and DoD platforms. Eligible to obtain a U.S. Secret clearance. Travel up to 25% to customer sites and field testing locations.
Required Qualifications
- Proven track record directing technical architecture and guiding individual contributors as a lead engineer
- Background in developing and fielding software-heavy robotics, autonomous systems, or aerospace products
- Strong hardware/software integration skills, including robotics software architectures and tactical mission systems
- Experience with autonomous systems, mission-critical Department of Defense systems, or tactical edge technologies
- Travel: Ability to travel up to 25% to customer sites and field testing locations
- Education: BS, MS, or PhD in Robotics, Aerospace, ME, EE, CS, or equivalent
- Security Clearance: Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret clearance
Desired Qualifications
- Advanced knowledge in Motion Planning, Perception, Command & Control, SLAM, task allocation, or tactical networking
- Work history involving multi-domain unmanned systems (air, ground, or maritime)
- Understanding of edge-AI/ML deployment on autonomous physical systems
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