Software Engineer V/VI

Zone 5 Technologies develops autonomous unmanned aircraft systems and mission-critical aerospace and defense solutions. The company is seeking a principal-level C#/.NET software engineer to architect, implement, verify, and lead high-reliability embedded and application software for autonomous UAS platforms. The role includes technical ownership, cross-functional collaboration, CI/CD development, mentoring, and support for certification and airworthiness processes.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture, design, implementation, and verification of embedded and application-level software for high-reliability, safety-critical UAS systems — from flight controls and mission autonomy to ground station integration and real-time data processing
• Own end-to-end technical ownership of major software components or subsystems, driving decisions on technology stack, performance optimization, fault tolerance, and certification pathways (DO-178C familiarity a strong plus)
• Collaborate deeply with systems, hardware, GNC, flight test, and cybersecurity teams to define requirements, resolve cross-domain challenges, and integrate software into full-system flight demonstrations
• Champion modern development excellence: architect and evolve CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions + AWS), automated testing frameworks, build systems, and deployment strategies for cloud-edge hybrid environments
• Mentor and guide mid-level and senior engineers, conduct in-depth code/design reviews, establish best practices, and foster a culture of rigorous, high-quality engineering in a fast-paced environment
• Contribute to strategic technical roadmaps, evaluate emerging technologies (e.g., real-time middleware, model-based design, AI/ML integration for autonomy), and influence product direction for long-range strike, counter-UAS, and multi-domain systems
• Support qualification, certification, and airworthiness processes through rigorous verification, validation, and documentation in compliance with defense and aerospace standards

Requirements:

• 8–15+ years of professional software engineering experience, with significant time spent on complex, high-reliability or safety-critical systems (aerospace, defense, automotive, medical devices, or similar strongly preferred)
• Deep expertise in C# (preferred) and strong proficiency in additional languages such as C/C++, Python, or Matlab/Simulink for real-time/embedded/model-based workflows
• Proven track record designing and delivering real-time embedded software, flight-critical applications, autonomy stacks, or mission systems for UAS, drones, robotics, or related platforms
• Advanced hands-on mastery of Git/GitHub workflows at scale, Visual Studio, and scripting/automation (Bash, PowerShell, Python) for build/deploy/test pipelines
• Strong experience building and optimizing CI/CD systems (GitHub Actions required; Jenkins, GitLab CI, or similar a plus) and deploying/managing software in AWS or hybrid cloud environments
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives, influence architecture across teams, and deliver under aggressive schedules in regulated industries
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills — able to distill complex technical concepts for cross-functional stakeholders and drive consensus on tough trade-offs
• U.S. person status required (ability to obtain and maintain security clearance preferred; existing clearance a significant advantage)