Front End Developer

About the role

This entry-level HMI/Desktop Applications Software Engineer role focuses on developing and maintaining operator-facing desktop software used to control and monitor unmanned aircraft systems. You will primarily use C++ and C# to build intuitive, data-driven applications and user interfaces that simplify complex telemetry and sensor data for operators. This position is ideal for an early-career software developer who wants to work close to hardware and aerospace systems while growing skills in UI development, real-time data visualization, and modern software engineering practices.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain desktop applications in C# and C++ that support control and monitoring of unmanned aircraft systems.
• Create intuitive, user-friendly graphical user interfaces that present complex telemetry, sensor data, and network status in a clear and actionable way.
• Implement HMI (Human-Machine Interface) features, dashboards, and visualizations to support real-time system awareness and operator decision-making.
• Collaborate with embedded, systems, and network engineers to integrate aircraft, sensor, and system information into the operator-facing software.
• Work on data-driven application features that process, display, and manage real-time sensor data and telemetry streams.
• Use Visual Studio and related tools to develop, debug, and optimize application performance and responsiveness.
• Troubleshoot and debug application issues, including UI behavior, data handling, and integration problems.
• Participate in unit testing and integration testing to ensure software reliability, correctness, and robustness.
• Contribute to the full application lifecycle, including requirements understanding, implementation, testing, and iterative refinement based on user feedback.
• Use Git for source control, branching, merging, and code version management.
• Support the development of prototypes, simulations, and potentially game-like or dashboard-style interfaces to validate new concepts and features.
• Collaborate with field operators and other stakeholders to gather feedback and improve the usability and effectiveness of the operator-facing tools.
• Document key application features, workflows, and debugging steps to support maintainability and knowledge sharing.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• 0–2 years of software development experience, which may include internships, co-ops, capstone projects, or similar hands-on work.
• Experience with C# or C++ gained through coursework or projects.
• Solid understanding of object-oriented programming (OOP) principles and their application in real-world software.
• Experience developing desktop applications or GUIs, such as dashboards, games, simulations, or similar interfaces.
• Basic experience with UI/UX, Human-Computer Interaction, or HMI concepts applied to software projects.
• Familiarity with Visual Studio as a primary development environment.
• Ability to debug applications, identify root causes, and implement effective fixes.
• Comfort working with data-driven applications, including handling and displaying sensor data and telemetry.
• Experience using Git or similar version control systems for source code management.

Qualifications

• Experience with WPF, WinForms, MFC, or similar desktop UI frameworks.
• Exposure to Figma or similar UI/UX design and prototyping tools.
• Familiarity or interest in UI/UX design, including layout, interaction design, and usability best practices.
• Experience with real-time systems, telemetry, and sensor data visualization.
• Familiarity with unit testing and integration testing frameworks and practices.
• Experience building or contributing to dashboards, games, or simulations with interactive user interfaces.
• Understanding of network status monitoring and integrating network-related information into applications.
• Interest in aerospace, unmanned systems, or working close to hardware and real-world systems.
• Motivation to learn and apply software engineering best practices across the full application lifecycle.

Work environment

This role is primarily onsite, with approximately 80% of the work performed at an office location in Bingen, WA. The position is largely development-focused and office-based, with regular use of computers, engineering documents, and technical drawings. You will collaborate in person with software, embedded, systems, and network engineers, and periodically interact with field operators to gather feedback on the operator-facing tools. The role includes about 5% domestic and international travel for collaboration or field-related activities. Daily work involves sitting at a computer, reading screens and documentation, walking through office and production areas that may include uneven surfaces, and occasionally carrying or lifting items up to 30 pounds. The environment supports hands-on experience with full application lifecycle development in the aerospace industry, providing exposure to real-time systems, sensor data, and operator workflows.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $70,000 – $125,000 per year. Individual compensation offered within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Job type & location

This is a permanent, hybrid position based in Bingen, WA.

Application deadline

This position is anticipated to close on November 2, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.