Director, Flight Software Engineering

Hermeus is an aerospace and defense technology company founded to radically accelerate air travel by delivering hypersonic aircraft. The company aims to develop hypersonic aircraft quickly and cost-effectively by integrating hardware-rich, iterative development with modern computing and autonomy. This approach has been validated through design, build, and test of the company’s first combined turbojet-ramjet engine and is now being scaled through its first flight vehicle program, Quarterhorse. Hermeus is also developing Darkhorse — an uncrewed hypersonic aircraft designed to deliver unique asymmetric capabilities to the warfighter.
As the Director of Flight Software Engineering at Hermeus, you will be responsible for overseeing the software engineering function for our high-speed aircraft. Your primary focus will be on leading the design, development, and integration of software systems that enable safe and efficient operation of our high-speed aircraft. You will manage a talented team of software engineers and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including avionics, vehicle engineering, and systems integration, to ensure seamless software integration throughout the aircraft. 

Responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor, and manage the flight software engineering team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture. 
• Drive the technical strategy and execution for the development, integration, and testing of flight software for advanced hypersonic vehicles. 
• Oversee the architecture and design of flight control systems and ensure their alignment with mission requirements and safety standards. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including hardware engineering, systems engineering, GNC, and flight test, to deliver integrated software solutions. 
• Define software development processes and best practices, ensuring timely delivery of software that meets stringent quality and safety requirements. 
• Spearhead the software verification and validation efforts, including simulation-based testing, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, and flight tests. 
• Establish and manage performance metrics for software quality, productivity, and innovation. 
• Represent the flight software engineering team in meetings with executives, stakeholders, and external partners to ensure alignment with program objectives. 
• Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies, trends, and advancements in flight software development and aerospace engineering. 
• Drive continuous improvement in team processes and capabilities, advocating for a culture of innovation and technical excellence. 

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering, or a related field. 
• 8+ years of experience in embedded flight software development, with at least 4year in a leadership or senior technical role. 
• Professional experience with real-time embedded systems, flight control software, or mission-critical software development. 
• Professional experience in recruiting, developing, and scaling engineering teams, including coaching and mentoring engineers at all levels. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a startup environment is a plus 
• Master's or PhD degree in a relevant technical field (e.g., Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Robotics). 
• Experience working with aerospace safety standards and regulations (e.g., DO-178C, MIL-STD-498, etc.) 
• Experience with avionics systems, flight simulation environments, and autonomous vehicle software development. 
• Prior experience working in the hypersonic or commercial space sectors. 
• Active participation in industry standards committees or working groups related to aerospace software.  

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending. 
EQUAL OPPORTUNITYHermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.