Director of Software Architecture
Red 6· startup· Defense & Space· Sep 4, 2026 · 2mo ago
Santa Monica / Denver
In office
Full-time
Director
$215K–$260K
15+ years exp
Job description
Company Overview
Red 6 is an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) technology startup leading the way in synthetic air combat training. Our primary technology, supporting our ATARS product, enables pilots to simulate the cognitive challenges of flying while accessing realistic, scalable training in dynamic outdoor environments.
The Role
Red 6 is seeking a highly experienced Director of Software Architecture to join our dynamic team in Louisville, CO or Santa Monica, CA. The Director of Software Architecture reports directly to the Chief Product Officer and is responsible for defining, governing, and evolving the software architecture across Red 6's Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS) product portfolio and future software platforms.
As the Director of Software Architect, this role establishes long-term software technical strategy, ensuring scalable, secure, and maintainable software architectures spanning real-time graphics, embedded software, edge computing, AI-enabled capabilities, cloud services, mission applications, simulation, and aircraft integration. Working closely with Engineering leadership, Product Management, Chief Engineer(s), and Program teams, this leader drives architectural consistency across products while enabling rapid innovation and disciplined execution.
As a deeply technical executive, the Director, Software Architecture provides hands-on technical leadership, establishes software engineering best practices, governs architecture decisions, and mentors software architects and senior engineering leaders. This position serves as a primary software architecture advisor to the Chief Product Officer and Chief Technology Officer as well as other executive leadership and customers, ensuring Red 6 maintains a modern, scalable, and mission-ready software ecosystem.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the technical authority for enterprise software architecture across Red 6's ATARS and future software-enabled products.
- Define and maintain the long-term software architecture roadmap supporting current programs and next-generation capabilities.
- Lead architectural definition across embedded software, real-time rendering, simulation, mission systems, networking, cloud infrastructure, edge computing, AI/ML services, and user applications.
- Establish software architecture governance through Architecture Review Boards, design standards, reusable frameworks, and technical decision processes.
- Partner with Chief Engineers to ensure software architectures align with overall system architecture, technical baselines, and product roadmaps.
- Drive adoption of modular, scalable, and reusable software architectures supporting MOSA, OMS, FACE, and emerging defense standards.
- Lead software modernization initiatives including containerization, cloud-native services, DevSecOps, CI/CD automation, Infrastructure Code, and software factory implementation.
- Define enterprise software development standards including coding practices, architectural patterns, API governance, software quality metrics, and secure software development lifecycle practices.
- Provide technical leadership for AI-enabled capabilities, autonomy frameworks, computer vision, machine learning integration, and data-driven mission applications.
- Guide software architecture supporting mixed reality, augmented reality, real-time visualization, synthetic training environments, and distributed simulation.
- Ensure software architectures meet performance requirements for latency, determinism, scalability, cybersecurity, reliability, and maintainability.
- Collaborate with Systems Engineering to support Digital Engineering initiatives, MBSE, requirements of traceability, interface management, and verification planning.
- Identify technical risks, conduct architecture trade studies, and establish mitigation strategies.
- Support staffing needs for software team and mentor Principal Engineers, Software Architects, and Software Engineering Managers.
- Partner with Business Development and executive leadership during customer engagements and proposal development.
- Represent Red 6 as the senior software architecture leader with government customers, partners, and executive stakeholders.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related STEM discipline (master's preferred; PhD a plus).
- 15+ years of progressive software engineering experience with at least 8 years leading large-scale software architecture initiatives in aerospace, defense, simulation, avionics, autonomy, AR/VR, or related industries.
- 8+ years leading and mentoring a team of software developers.
- Demonstrated experience defining enterprise software architectures spanning embedded systems, distributed computing, cloud platforms, and real-time applications.
- Proven experience leading software architecture across complex hardware/software integrated systems.
- Experience developing and certifying flight or safety critical software, especially for airborne platforms using DO-178 and/or AC-17-01.
- Deep understanding of microservices, event-driven architectures, distributed systems, containerized applications, and edge computing.
- Experience implementing DevSecOps, CI/CD, software factories, and secure software development methodologies.
- Strong understanding of embedded Linux, RTOS, GPU computing, networking, and high-performance software architectures.
- Experience integrating software with avionics, mission systems, sensors, or defense communication architectures.
- Excellent executive communication and leadership skills.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing software for AR, VR, MR, or advanced visualization systems.
- Experience with real-time graphics engines, rendering pipelines, GPU programming, or computer vision.
- Experience architecting AI/ML-enabled software platforms supporting autonomy or synthetic training.
- Experience with OMS, FACE, MOSA, CMOSS, or similar DoD standards.
- Experience supporting aircraft mission systems or airborne computing.
- Experience with Kubernetes, cloud-native infrastructure, hybrid cloud, and edge deployment.
- Experience implementing Digital Engineering and MBSE.
- Experience with RMF, Zero Trust, and DoD cybersecurity frameworks.
- Experience leading software organizations within a high-growth defense technology company.
- Active DoD Secret or Top-Secret security clearance.
Estimated Base Salary Range:
$215,000 to $260,000 dependent on skills and experience- Range is given if you live in DEN or SMO
Full-Time Employee Benefits
- Healthcare, Dental, and Vision (100% coverage for Employees)
- Paid time off, including vacation, sick, paid holidays, and parental leave
- Short and Long-Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Voluntary Worksite Benefits (Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity)
- May be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus based on individual and company performance, subject to plan terms.
Note
Red 6 reserves the right to change its current benefits program at any time, in a manner that is consistent with applicable federal and state regulations.
This job description is not a contract and confers no contractual rights, privileges, or benefits on any applicant or potential applicant. Red 6 has the right to change any and all terms of this job description, including, but not limited to, job responsibilities, qualifications, and benefits. Nothing in this job description constitutes an offer or guarantee of employment.
Red Six Aerospace, Inc, is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
California: caljobs.ca.gov
Colorado: connectingcolorado.com
Florida: employflorida.com
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), Red 6 Aerospace, Inc. operating company you are applying to work for (hereinafter, “we”, “our”, or “us”) may collect personal information and use it for certain business purposes as described below in this Job Applicant and Employee Privacy Notice. We are required to disclose the following information to California “consumers” regarding our collection of their personal information. Under the CCPA, “consumers” means California residents, including job applicants, employees, or contractors of a business.
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Benefits
Benefits detected in the listing.
Dental
Vision
401(K)
Paid Time Off
Parental Leave