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Software Engineer - Autonomy & Ground Systems

Valinor · New York, NY · 1 mo ago
On-siteEngineeringFull-time

About the role

Valinor Condor is building the next generation of autonomous VTOL aircraft for defense and enterprise applications. We're a small, technical team moving fast — our vehicle is flying, our customers are real, and the work spans simulation to real life. We're looking for a Software Engineer to own everything above the flight controller. That means the ground control stack, companion computer software, mission planning tools, simulation infrastructure, and the internal tooling that keeps a fast-moving flight test program organized.

Responsibilities

  • On-Board Computer Stack — Own sensor and payload pipelines, camera systems, and Computer ↔ Flight Controller communication
  • Ground Control & Mission Planning — Own GCS software, MAVLink routing infrastructure, TAK/CoT integration, and end-to-end mission planning tooling
  • Simulation Infrastructure — Build and maintain the SITL harness and interface layer between the flight dynamics model and autopilot; develop scripted HITL test suites that validate software changes before they reach the flight line
  • Flight Operations Tooling — Build the flight data pipeline — log ingestion, storage, indexing, and retrieval at scale — along with team-facing analysis dashboards and automated anomaly detection so engineers aren't manually reviewing every log
  • Engineering Infrastructure — Own CI/CD for firmware builds and software releases, enabling rapid integration with clear documentation
  • Collaboration — Work with engineering and product teams to translate customer requirements into working software

Requirements

  • 4+ years of software engineering experience, with meaningful time spent on hardware-coupled systems
  • Proficiency in C++ and Python
  • Experience with ROS or ROS2 in a deployed context
  • Comfortable working in Linux environments — systems, networking, process management, debugging without a GUI
  • Strong written communication — you'll translate between domain experts (GNC, EE) and working software

Preferred

  • Experience with MAVLink, PX4, or ArduPilot — you understand how autopilot communication works, not just that it exists
  • Familiarity with SITL/HITL simulation environments
  • Experience with data pipeline tooling (ingestion, storage, querying of time-series or log data)
  • Background in or exposure to defense, aerospace, or other safety-critical software domains

Nice to Have

  • Experience with TAK, CoT, or military C2 integration
  • Knowledge of MAVLink security, encrypted RF links, or NDAA software compliance
  • CI/CD experience in a hardware-in-the-loop context

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a Software Engineer who can bring their expertise to our cutting-edge project. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in software engineering, particularly in hardware-coupled systems, and experience with ROS or ROS2 in a deployed context. They should be comfortable working in Linux environments and have strong written communication skills to bridge the gap between domain experts and working software.

What You'll Get

At Valinor, you'll be part of a dynamic team building innovative solutions for defense and enterprise applications. You'll work on a wide range of projects, from developing the ground control stack to building simulation infrastructure and flight operations tooling. Our collaborative environment encourages innovation and creativity, and we offer competitive compensation, benefits, and a supportive culture.

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary, equity packages, and benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance - fully covered for employees, 401K, development stipends, among others.
  • Unlimited PTO and two-week company holiday at the end of every calendar year.
  • We are a pro-mental health and pro-family company - we actually encourage employees to spend time with themselves and their families.
  • Fun work environment - we like to laugh and take care of each other, but we also deeply respect the mission in front of us.

Qualifications

To be considered for this role, you must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Active clearance preferred, but not required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Valinor is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.

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