Senior Software Integration Engineer (Payloads & Integrations) at Firestorm in San Diego, CA

Job description

Who We Are At Firestorm, we are building the future of expeditionary defense manufacturing and autonomous systems. Modern conflict has exposed a fundamental problem: the systems needed most by operators are often too expensive, too slow to produce, and too difficult to sustain at scale. Firestorm exists to change that. We develop mission-adaptable aerial systems and deployable manufacturing infrastructure designed to put capability directly into the hands of the warfighter. From modular unmanned aircraft to xCell — our deployable microfactory — our goal is to make defense systems rapidly deployable, adaptable, and producible at the point of need. We are looking for builders, operators, and problem-solvers who want to work on meaningful technology with real-world impact. About the Role Firestorm is seeking a Senior Software Integration Engineer to join our Payloads & Integrations team. This role exists to accelerate the integration of new mission payloads and capabilities into Firestorm's autonomous systems. You will operate at the intersection of software, hardware, and mission systems – developing the interfaces, tooling, and integrations required to rapidly deploy new payload capabilities. This includes integrating cameras, radios, sensors, and other mission equipment through SDKs, APIs, and custom software workflows. You will work closely with Firestorm's core software organization, which owns the mainline software stack. Your role will be to rapidly develop and validate payload integrations through an out-of-cycle (branched) development process, then collaborate with the broader software organization to upstream production-ready capabilities into future releases. This is a hands-on IC engineering role for someone who enjoys moving quickly across software layers, debugging complex systems, and solving ambiguous integration problems. What You'll Do Build and maintain software interfaces between payload hardware, mission applications, and autonomy systems Integrate SDKs and APIs for cameras, gimbals, radios, sensors, and other mission equipment Develop tools and applications supporting payload configuration, monitoring, and control Customize or extend mission applications such as QGroundControl, TAK-based applications, and related operator interfaces Debug complex systems spanning Linux, networking, hardware interfaces, and distributed software components Build Docker-based deployment workflows for fielded software capabilities Work within a side-branch development process and collaborate with the core software team to make upstream production-ready changes Participate in field testing, demonstrations, and integration activities Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science , Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience). U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations. 5+ years of professional software engineering experience . Strong programming ability in one or more modern languages (C++, Python, Rust, Go, Java, TypeScript, or similar) . Demonstrated history of holding yourself and your teammates to a high standard, even when it creates discomfort. Strong software engineering fundamentals with experience across multiple layers of the stack Strong Linux experience including command-line workflows, debugging, and system administration tasks Experience with networking fundamentals including TCP/IP, UDP, routing, and network troubleshooting Experience integrating software with external systems through APIs, SDKs, or communication protocols Ability to quickly understand and modify large existing codebases Experience developing reliable production software in fast-moving environments Experience with Git including branching and upstream contributions Preferred Qualifications Background that includes both startup and scale-stage product engineering. Experience with autonomous systems, UAVs, robotics, or defense technology Experience with QGroundControl, MAVLink, PX4, ArduPilot, or similar pla