The Mission Systems Engineering team develops the Mission Management System—the software platform connecting mission subsystems, autonomy services, operator interfaces, communications links, and telemetry across Hermeus aircraft and ground systems.
As a Senior/Principal Mission Software Engineer, you will architect, build, integrate, and validate critical portions of this platform. You will work across software, avionics, communications, autonomy, simulation, and flight operations to solve complex problems in distributed, hardware-connected environments.
This is a hands-on technical leadership role with the opportunity to define foundational architecture and directly influence how Hermeus aircraft are commanded, monitored, tested, and expanded with new mission capabilities.
Responsibilities:
Own major Mission Management System capabilities from architecture through integration, testing, and operational use
Design and develop high-performance C++ software for command and control, telemetry, mission workflows, and subsystem coordination
Define scalable architectures, interfaces, APIs, protocols, and message schemas
Integrate autonomy services, sensors, payloads, radios, tactical datalinks, and third-party systems
Make technical decisions involving performance, reliability, latency, fault tolerance, and extensibility
Diagnose complex issues across distributed software, networks, embedded hardware, avionics, and communications systems
Partner with systems, avionics, autonomy, networking, flight-test, and operations teams
Build and improve simulation, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, and system-integration environments
Lead design reviews, code reviews, technical trade studies, and integration activities
Identify technical risks and drive solutions in environments where requirements are still evolving
Mentor engineers and establish strong software architecture and development practices
Support ground and flight-test campaigns, including real-time troubleshooting
Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field
7+ years of professional software-development experience for Senior-level consideration
10+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent record of technical leadership and impact, for Principal-level consideration
Advanced proficiency with modern C++, including C++17 or newer
Experience designing and delivering complex, production-quality software systems
Strong knowledge of concurrency, memory management, software architecture, and performance-oriented development
Experience with distributed, real-time, embedded, robotic, aerospace, or other hardware-connected systems
Experience with TCP, UDP, multicast, and socket-level network programming
Ability to define architectures, interfaces, protocols, and system boundaries in ambiguous environments
Experience integrating software with hardware, external services, or independently developed subsystems
Strong debugging skills across software, networking, and hardware interfaces
Ability to clearly communicate technical decisions, risks, and tradeoffs across multidisciplinary teams
Demonstrated ownership through design, implementation, integration, testing, and deployment
Preferred Skills and Experience:
Experience with mission systems, command-and-control software, mission planning, ground-control systems, autonomy platforms, or operator-facing applications
Aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomous vehicle, or spacecraft experience
Experience with RF communications, SATCOM, line-of-sight radios, or tactical datalinks
Familiarity with publish/subscribe architectures or middleware such as DDS, ZeroMQ, ActiveMQ, or Kafka
Experience integrating third-party sensors, payloads, autonomy services, radios, or mission subsystems
Knowledge of avionics architectures, aircraft networks, telemetry, and command-and-control workflows
Linux software development and deployment experience
Experience developing fault-tolerant or degraded-mode behaviors for distributed systems
Experience with simulation, SIL, HIL, system-integration labs, ground tests, or flight tests
Familiarity with standards such as DO-178C, ARINC, FACE, OMS/UCI, STANAG, or MIL-STD
Experience establishing technical direction or influencing execution across multiple teams
Experience working in a startup or rapid-prototyping environment
Due to U.S. Government requirements associated with access to Controlled Cryptographic Items (CCI) and related controlled information, this position is limited to U.S. citizens. U.S. permanent residents (Green Card holders) are not eligible for this role.
The salary range listed for this role is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope and responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, market data, and business needs.
At Hermeus, compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. We offer competitive pay, equity, and a range of benefits designed to support our team.
- Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid healthcare and pet insurance
- Financial: Competitive pay, stock options, 401(k) retirement plan, and potential year-end bonuses
- Time Off: Paid parental leave, 12 federal holidays, unlimited PTO for exempt employees, and generous accrued PTO for non-exempt employees
- Office Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakrooms
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical field
- 5+ years of professional C++ development experience delivering production-quality software
- Proficiency with modern C++ (C++14/17/20)
- Experience with network programming concepts such as TCP, UDP, and multicast at the socket interface level
- Experience integrating software with hardware systems or external services in environments with evolving requirements
- Ability to define interfaces, protocols, and system boundaries where none exist
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
Hermeus Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Hermeus and has not been reviewed or approved by Hermeus.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare is described as employer-paid for employees and dependents, including dental and vision. Feedback suggests this substantially reduces healthcare burden and strengthens overall total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — The package includes unlimited PTO for exempt employees, generous accrued PTO for non‑exempt staff, and observed federal holidays. Feedback suggests this breadth aims to support work‑life balance.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Stock options are guaranteed with all full‑time offers, with potential for additional grants based on performance. Feedback suggests this provides ownership upside alongside base pay and bonuses.
Hermeus Insights
What We Do
Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer focused on the rapid design, build, and test of high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft for the national interest. Working directly with the Department of Defense, Hermeus delivers capabilities that will ensure that our nation, and our allies, maintain an asymmetric advantage over any and all potential adversaries. Utilizing an integrated, hardware-rich, iterative development approach to aircraft design and build, Hermeus aims to deliver advanced air power at a pace not seen in the U.S. since the 1950s. Hermeus’ current Quarterhorse Program is actively unlocking unmanned high-speed flight. One program, four aircraft – each purpose-built to unlock a specific technical challenge, advance learnings, and incrementally de-risk critical technology in the pursuit of hypersonic aircraft. Today, Hermeus is building its second Quarterhorse vehicle, Mk 2, after having designed, built, and flight tested its predecessor, Mk 1, in 18 months. Capable of reaching speeds of Mach 3+, Quarterhorse Mk 2 will be the fastest uncrewed military aircraft in service for national defense. The final iteration of Quarterhorse, Mk 4, will be capable of transitioning from turbofan to ramjet mode utilizing a Hermeus-developed turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion system to achieve sustained speeds of Mach 5+. Hermeus' approach of build-fly-build lays the groundwork for unlocking hypersonic flight at a pace and cost previously deemed impossible. America needs fast planes fast – and Hermeus is delivering them.
Why Work With Us
We prioritize hardware and people. Cutting-edge technology is only made possible by bringing together a world-class team. At Hermeus, you will be challenged – but also empowered. We encourage calculated risks taking and learning from our mistakes. Iteration is the name of the game.
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