Embedded Linux Software Team Lead

San Diego, CASenior$140,000 - $180,0005+ years

Who We Are

At Firestorm, we are building the future of expeditionary defense manufacturing and autonomous systems. Modern conflict has exposed a fundamental problem: the systems needed most by operators are often too expensive, too slow to produce, and too difficult to sustain at scale. Firestorm exists to change that.

We develop mission-adaptable aerial systems and deployable manufacturing infrastructure designed to put capability directly into the hands of the warfighter. From modular unmanned aircraft to xCell — our deployable microfactory — our goal is to make defense systems rapidly deployable, adaptable, and producible at the point of need.

We are looking for builders, operators, and problem-solvers who want to work on meaningful technology with real-world impact.

About the Role

Firestorm is seeking an Embedded Linux Software Team Lead to join our team. You’ll report to the Flight Systems Software Lead, and work closely with the autonomy, avionics, and applications software teams to build robust, secure applications that power real defense missions. You will also interface with mechanical and electrical engineering teams in the product design phase to ensure software compatibility. Your time will be split between management and being an individual contributor.

This is a high-impact, hands-on engineering leadership role focused on designing and delivering Linux based applications for media, radio, communications, SDK, and other Linux system daemons. You’ll oversee and personally contribute to the development of C/C++ system services and implement REST based and other API’s to interface with these services. You’ll help ensure interoperability with industry and defense standards while upholding security and performance requirements.

What You'll Do

Team management, facilitating standup meetings, scrummaster, task prioritization and scheduling and architecture and design review
Work across engineering disciplines to ensure software compatibility and capability with product design and requirements
Design and implement Linux core daemons in modern C++.
Define clean, versioned REST APIs (SemVer, deprecation strategy) and deliver software application packages, installers, and artifacts across Linux, Windows, and Android (e.g., deb/AppImage, MSI/MSIX, AAR/APK add-ons).
Own the developer experience: samples, quickstarts, idiomatic wrappers, error models, logging/telemetry hooks, and clear documentation that make integration fast and intuitive.
Engineer for real-time and mission-critical use: deterministic behavior, back-pressure, zero-copy paths, bounded latencies, and graceful degradation on CPU/GPU-constrained hardware.
Harden security by default: memory-safe patterns, least-privilege design, secure transport (OpenSSL/libsodium), key/material handling, and supply-chain integrity for third-party deps.
Build reliability into CI/CD: cross-platform builds (CMake, Conan/vcpkg), automated unit/integration tests (Catch2/GoogleTest, pytest, JUnit, NUnit), fuzzing, sanitizers, codegen validation.
Collaborate across teams and with partners to gather requirements, refine APIs, and support field integrations; contribute to platform-wide architecture and roadmap discussions.
Contribute to operability: diagnostics, tracing, metrics, compatibility matrices, and upgrade playbooks for customers in the field.

Minimum Qualifications

U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
Bachelor’s in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field.
5+ years of experience in embedded systems and Linux development in modern C/C++.
2+ years of experience leading a team with people management.
Proven experience creating and maintaining Linux daemons with systemd integration.
Strong integration background with real-time or mission-critical systems (5+ years) including async/event-driven networking (TCP/UDP, REST, WebSockets, DDS/gRPC/ZeroMQ).
Familiarity with industry/defense protocols and standards (e.g., RAS-A, MAVLink, STANAG 4586, OMS/UCI, Link 16) and data serialization (Protobuf/FlatBuffers).
Expertise in secure coding and dependency hygiene (OpenSSL, libsodium, memory safety, fuzzing, sanitizers).
Cross-platform build and packaging: CMake, Conan/vcpkg; Linux (deb/rpm/AppImage, systemd), Windows (MSVC/MinGW, windeploy/MSI/MSIX), Android (Gradle/JNI/APK signing).
Excellent problem-solving and communication skills; comfortable driving features end-to-end (requirements → design → implementation → testing → release).

Preferred Qualifications

Experience troubleshooting hardware bringup and the use of oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, etc.
Experience with the Linux kernel and drivers, building, and deployment thereof
Experience with ROS 2 (rclcpp/DDS), gRPC, ZeroMQ, and protocol gateways/bridges.
Knowledge of telemetry pipelines and observability for SDKs (structured logs, metrics, distributed tracing).
Experience in embedded/Linux environments (Yocto/Buildroot, cross-compilation, OTA updates) and constrained targets.
Performance tuning and profiling across languages (perf, VTune, Valgrind, sanitizers) and build/toolchain optimization.
Experience developing to MIL-STD/DO-178C or similar safety/security standards.
Track record of mentoring peers, conducting code reviews, and enforcing modern C++/API best practices.

Work Environment

This role is preferred to be on-site in San Diego, but hybrid candidates may be considered.
We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.
Willingness to travel up to 15% domestically for testing and demonstrations

This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office equipment and the physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach and move about regularly throughout the day. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment.

Compensation

US Salary Range: $140,000 - $180,000 USD

The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certifications, specialized skills, geographic location, and business needs. Actual compensation may vary, and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve.

Benefits & Perks

Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
Equity grants for new hires
Unlimited PTO
Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November & December
Generous Parental Leave
Lifestyle Spending Account
FSA
DCFSA
HSA
Hospital Indemnity insurance
Critical Illness insurance
Accident insurance
Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.

Export Control Compliance

To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. 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.

Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at careers@launchfirestorm.com so we can provide the support you need.

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