Principal Automation Engineer

About the role

Firestorm is seeking a Principal Automation Engineer to own the software that takes UAS platforms from first power-on to mission-ready flight. This role is responsible for delivering integrated, reliable systems across autonomy, vehicle control, and verification, with direct impact on platforms that are designed, built, and flown on rapid timelines.

Responsibilities

• Deliver integrated, flight-ready software across autopilot, onboard compute, and vehicle systems
• Lead bring-up, integration, and validation on hardware, driving issues through resolution to flight
• Define and control software interfaces across flight systems, payloads, and ground control
• Set software architecture, coding standards, and design patterns within the team
• Design, build, and scale automated test frameworks across unit, integration, SIL, and HIL
• Develop and operate HIL environments with realistic sensor, telemetry, and vehicle simulation
• Establish repeatable verification workflows that enable rapid iteration with high confidence
• Build tooling for real-time monitoring, data capture, and post-flight analysis
• Support flight test campaigns and convert test data into actionable improvements
• Reduce cycle time from code change to validated flight behavior
• Act as a technical authority across software integration and verification efforts

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field; may substitute equivalent hands-on experience in lieu of a degree
• 15+ years of experience in UAS, robotics, autonomous systems, or software engineering
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations & the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance
• Hands-on experience with autopilot systems such as PX4, ArduPilot or similar platforms, and MAVLink-based communication
• Strong proficiency in Python and C or C++ for flight software and test frameworks
• Demonstrated experience designing and operating SIL and HIL systems
• Effectively communicates complex technical concepts clearly to both engineering and program stakeholders
• Aligns crossfunctional teams including hardware, systems, and manufacturing without respectful authority
• Comfortable working collaboratively across engineering, operations, and customer-facing teams
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) for data tracking, reporting, and communication

Preferred Qualifications

• Comfortable operating in fast-moving, ambiguous environments; creates clarity and drives execution with incomplete requirements
• Track record of building reusable tools and frameworks adopted beyond the immediate team
• Systems thinker with focus on scalable and maintainable solutions
• Methodical and persistent in diagnosing integration and test failures
• Willing to work hands-on in the lab and on the flight line; owns problems through resolution