FlightWave Aerospace - A Red Cat Company · 2 days ago
Staff Software Engineer - Controls
Torrance, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$176K/yr - $198K/yr
5+ years expFlightWave Aerospace, a Red Cat Company, is seeking a Staff Software Engineer focused on building high-performance, control-critical embedded software in C++. The role involves designing, implementing, and optimizing real-time C++ systems that interact with hardware, ensuring reliable performance under strict constraints.
AerospaceData Collection and LabelingTransportation
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Control-Critical Embedded Software: Design, implement, and maintain real-time embedded C++ software that executes control loops for VTOL and gimbal systems, with a focus on deterministic performance, timing, and robustness in production environments
Applied Flight Controls (VTOL): Implement and tune flight control behaviors—including attitude, position, and transition modes—directly in firmware for multirotor and VTOL platforms, translating system dynamics into reliable, testable software
Modern C++ for Firmware: Define and uphold modern C++ best practices for embedded and real-time systems, including memory safety, concurrency models, unit testing, and CI workflows appropriate for control-critical codebases
Systems Integration & Collaboration: Work closely with mechanical, electrical, and hardware teams to define clean software-hardware interfaces, integrate sensors and actuators, and support bring-up, HIL testing, and performance iteration
Verification & Validation Infrastructure: Build and maintain software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test benches; analyze telemetry and performance data to guide tuning, debugging, and system-level improvements
Gimbal Firmware & Controls Integration: Contribute to gimbal product development by implementing motor control logic, sensor fusion interfaces, and low-level firmware that enables stable, high-bandwidth motion control
Technical Ownership: Drive critical control-adjacent software from design through deployment, balancing performance, safety, and maintainability across the embedded stack
Other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Control Systems Expertise: 5+ years designing and implementing control algorithms for gimbals, stabilizers, or aerial vehicles
Embedded Robotics Background: Proven experience shipping embedded robotics products in C++ on microcontrollers (ARM Cortex-M, STM32, etc.)
Strong C++ Skills: Deep understanding of modern C++ (14/17/20), real-time constraints, memory management, and synchronization primitives
Geometry & Transformations: Solid grasp of 3D kinematics, coordinate frames, quaternions, and homogeneous transforms
Frame-Level Expertise: Experience in one or more of attitude control, sensor fusion, target tracking or other complex frame-transformation problems, perception, and related system performance metrics
Sensor Integration Expertise: Hands-on experience integrating feedback sensors, such as IMUs, encoders, and related sensing hardware, into drive-system control loops
Preferred
PX4 Flight Stack: Hands-on with PX4 middleware, MAVLink, and QGroundControl integration
Simulation & URDF: Experience working with URDF-based modeling and robotics simulation environments
Hardware Debugging: Proficient with oscilloscope, logic analyzer, and hardware debugging tools
RTOS Proficiency: Experience with FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar real-time operating systems
Benefits
Generous annual equity package
Potential bonuses
Company
FlightWave Aerospace - A Red Cat Company
FlightWave Aerospace is a division of Red Cat, focused on delivering extended short-range, endurance-optimized uncrewed aircraft for mission-critical operations.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$1.9MKey Investors
United States Air ForceSnowpoint VenturesBreakout Labs
2024-09-17Grant· $1.9M
2024-06-11Acquired
2022-03-15Series Unknown
Leadership Team
Trent Lukaczyk
CTO & Co-Founder
Recent News
2025-10-10
Red Cat Holdings, Inc.
2025-04-07
Company data provided by crunchbase