Lead Autonomy Engineer – Special Programs

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, the company is a leader in the next-gen aerospace sector building an end-to-end advanced air mobility platform that delivers air taxis, unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), aviation-related physical artificial intelligence (“AI”) solutions, and other technologies to customers worldwide across the commercial aerospace and defense sectors.

Our sights are set high and our problems are hard, and we believe that diversity in the workplace is what makes us smarter, drives better insights, and will ultimately lift us all to success. We are dedicated to cultivating an equitable and inclusive environment that embraces our differences, and supports and celebrates all of our team members.

About the Role

Special Programs is the company's rapid-prototyping, cross-functional engineering team supporting advanced and defense-focused development efforts. We operate as a small, empowered group capable of moving quickly across disciplines — from early technical assessment of new opportunities through hands-on design, analysis, and prototype development.

The Lead Special Programs Engineer – Autonomy Integration brings deep autonomy engineering expertise as their organic core competency — the perception, planning, and autonomy-stack software that lets prototype vehicles operate with reduced human intervention.

What You’ll Do

• Lead autonomy stack design and development for prototype vehicles, including perception, planning, and autonomy software architecture

• Support rapid prototyping efforts end-to-end, from concept algorithms and simulation through hardware-in-the-loop test and flight test support

• Own the autonomy discipline within Special Programs — setting technical approach, standards, and development methods used across the program’s autonomy work

• Conduct technical feasibility assessments of new opportunities — evaluating whether emerging concepts, RFPs, or mission requirements are viable within your focus area and what approach they would require

• Serve as a cross-functional technical contributor across Special Programs efforts outside your core focus area when program needs require it

• Collaborate with program leads, other Special Programs engineers, and broader the company engineering teams to align technical approaches with program timelines and constraints

• Produce technical documentation, trade studies, and analysis packages supporting both design maturity reviews and opportunity/capture decisions

• Represent Special Programs work in your focus area in internal reviews and, as needed, in discussions with government stakeholders

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace, or a related field (advanced degree a plus)

• Demonstrated experience developing autonomy software — perception, planning, or decision-making stacks — for aerospace, robotics, or defense platforms

• Familiarity with relevant autonomy frameworks, simulation environments, and flight test support for autonomous systems

• Demonstrated ability to work across the full development lifecycle — concept through prototype — in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment

• Experience or strong aptitude for evaluating technical feasibility of early-stage concepts, not just executing against defined requirements

• Comfort operating as a generalist when needed — willingness and ability to contribute outside your core focus area in support of program needs

• Ability to work independently with significant technical ownership and no direct-report support structure

• 8–12 years of relevant engineering experience (or equivalent demonstrated experience in rapid-prototyping / advanced-programs environments)

• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee), as defined by ITAR/EAR

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance

What Makes This Role Different

This isn’t a seat on the company’s core autonomy team. Special Programs engineers are chosen for deep discipline expertise and the versatility to support wherever a program needs it — from early opportunity evaluation to hands-on prototype work across disciplines. You’ll have significant technical ownership and autonomy, working in a small team built to move fast on some of the company’s most forward-looking defense efforts.

At the company, we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent with the skills and leadership needed to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s strategy. For this position, we are targeting a base pay range of $138,200 - $190,100. Actual compensation offered will be determined by job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

The company is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to the company’s People Team at  [link for members] . Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

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Certain positions may be eligible for visa sponsorship.

The company is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The company Aviation does not engage with external recruiting agencies/individual recruiters with whom it does not have a prior written agreement. The company reserves the right to make use of any unsolicited resumes that it receives and bears no responsibility for payment of any fees asserted from the use of unsolicited resumes. If you are a recruiting agency or individual recruiter wishing to do business with the company, please reach out to  [link for members] . All employment processes are managed by the company People Team.