Job description

Fortem is looking for an experienced Software Engineer with a passion for solving difficult problems. In this role you will primarily be responsible for designing, maintaining, and improving DroneHunter’s ability to autonomously seek and capture targets safely. The ideal candidate combines technical expertise in embedded systems with architectural thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and a passion for building reliable, safety-critical drone platforms. Key Responsibilities • Design, implement, and test flight control and autonomy software, including state estimation, sensor fusion, and control loops • Develop navigation and path-planning algorithms, including obstacle avoidance and GPS/GNSS-based positioning • Build and maintain firmware for flight controllers and embedded hardware, working within real-time constraints • Implement communication protocols for telemetry, command-and-control, and failsafe/lost-link scenarios • Contribute to ground control station software for mission planning, monitoring, and post-flight analysis • Build and run hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) simulations to validate software before field testing • Collaborate closely with hardware, mechanical, and regulatory/compliance teams to ensure system-level reliability • Participate in field testing and flight trials, iterating quickly based on real-world results • Write clean, well-documented, and testable code, and participate in code reviews • Other software engineering tasks and projects as assigned by engineering leadership Requirements Required Skills & Qualifications • Bachelor's or master’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience) • 4+ years of experience in software engineering, ideally in robotics, aerospace, embedded systems, or autonomous vehicles • Strong proficiency in C++ and/or Python; experience with real-time or embedded systems is a plus • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, iterative environment with frequent hardware testing • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to debug complex, multi-layered systems (hardware + software) • Demonstrable experience using AI coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot) to accelerate development, debugging, and code review workflows • Excellent collaboration and communication skills across cross-functional Preferred Skills • Familiarity with robotics middleware such as ROS/ROS2, PX4, or ArduPilot • Understanding of communication protocols (MAVLink, UART, CAN, etc.) • Part 107 Remote Pilot License ABOUT US Fortem Technologies is the global leader in airspace security, delivering advanced solutions that protect against today’s autonomous aerial threats while ensuring the safety of tomorrow’s advanced air mobility. Fortem’s AI-powered SkyDome® Family of Systems combines TrueView™ sensors, command-and-control software, and autonomous DroneHunter® interceptors to defend military, government, and commercial operations worldwide from hostile or unauthorized drones. Fortem is the only company authorized to deploy a drone-on-drone kinetic interceptor in U.S. airspace, and its technology has been validated in operational deployments across Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia. Headquartered in Lindon, Utah, Fortem is privately held and backed by Lockheed Martin, DCVC, Toshiba, AE Industrial Partners, AIM13, Signia Venture Partners, and others. Fortem Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We believe that diversity drives innovation and makes us stronger.

Requirements

Must-haves

The ideal candidate combines technical expertise in embedded systems with architectural thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and a passion for building reliable, safety-critical drone platforms.
Design, implement, and test flight control and autonomy software, including state estimation, sensor fusion, and control loops
Develop navigation and path-planning algorithms, including obstacle avoidance and GPS/GNSS-based positioning
Build and maintain firmware for flight controllers and embedded hardware, working within real-time constraints
Implement communication protocols for telemetry, command-and-control, and failsafe/lost-link scenarios
Contribute to ground control station software for mission planning, monitoring, and post-flight analysis
Build and run hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) simulations to validate software before field testing
Collaborate closely with hardware, mechanical, and regulatory/compliance teams to ensure system-level reliability
Participate in field testing and flight trials, iterating quickly based on real-world results
Write clean, well-documented, and testable code, and participate in code reviews
Other software engineering tasks and projects as assigned by engineering leadership
Required Skills & Qualifications
Bachelor's or master’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)
4+ years of experience in software engineering, ideally in robotics, aerospace, embedded systems, or autonomous vehicles
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, iterative environment with frequent hardware testing
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to debug complex, multi-layered systems (hardware + software)
Demonstrable experience using AI coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot) to accelerate development, debugging, and code review workflows
Excellent collaboration and communication skills across cross-functional

Nice-to-haves

Strong proficiency in C++ and/or Python; experience with real-time or embedded systems is a plus
Familiarity with robotics middleware such as ROS/ROS2, PX4, or ArduPilot
Understanding of communication protocols (MAVLink, UART, CAN, etc.)
Part 107 Remote Pilot License

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Keywords to mirror

pythonai

Platform: paylocity
Effort: medium

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