Senior Software QA Engineer, Avionics Platform

WHO WE ARE

At Firestorm, we’re on a mission to revolutionize how defense solutions are

designed and delivered. Our goal is to empower U.S. ally nations to effectively

deter aggressors—regardless of their defense budget—through innovative,

cost-efficient technologies. We call this vision “democratized deterrence.” As a

VC-backed company at the intersection of defense and Silicon

Valley, we’re pioneering the development of mission-adaptable aerial vehicles

that put power back into the hands of operators. By prioritizing operator

effectiveness, we’re pioneering a new era of aerial vehicle design. We aim to

upend the traditional defense procurement model by delivering world-class

capabilities at a fraction of the usual cost. Join us at Firestorm as we

redefine defense procurement, making cutting-edge technology accessible to all

at a fraction of the cost.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Firestorm’s Avionics Platform team builds the software platform that flies our

vehicles: flight computers and peripheral controllers running embedded Linux and

RTOS stacks; middleware and Linux services; low-level drivers and HALs; and the

critical interfaces that connect autonomy, payloads, and comms.

We’re hiring a Senior Software QA Engineer to be the first deep-testing line for

this avionics stack—validating embedded firmware, board support packages, device

drivers, and safety-critical data paths long before Flight Test. You’ll blend

expert exploratory/system testing with targeted automation across HIL/SIL rigs,

exercising real buses (CAN/CAN-FD, UART, SPI, I²C, Ethernet) and stressing links

(MAVLink, Tactical Data Links, etc.) under real-world fault

conditions. You’ll partner closely with avionics, autonomy, radio, and payload

engineers to harden reliability where it matters most: on the aircraft.

This is a full-time, onsite role at our San Diego HQ. Expect meaningful hands-on

time with benches, flight computers, power systems, radios, and sensors

to validate end-to-end flight workflows.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

* Own system test for avionics (embedded Linux + RTOS targets), providing fast,

actionable feedback on functional defects, timing issues, and regressions

that impact flight safety and operator trust.

* Plan and execute risk-based strategies: feature/bring-up test plans,

exploratory charters, protocol-level regression suites, acceptance criteria,

and release sign-off gates ahead of Flight Test.

* Build and maintain automation for HIL/SIL:

* SIL: host-based unit/integration tests for drivers and middleware

(e.g., gtest/pytest), simulation of sensors/buses, fault-injection hooks.

* HIL: Python-driven benches to exercise serial/CAN/Ethernet I/O, sensor

emulators, and power-cycle/bootloader/OTA flows; automate log capture and

golden-trace diffs.

* Stand up reproducible rigs: power supplies/electronic loads, CAN analyzers,

logic analyzers, GNSS/sensor simulators, programmable RF links; script

scenario playback and telemetry injection.

* Validate robustness under degraded conditions: jitter, clock drift, packet

loss/duplication, bus contention, brownouts, hot-plug, and watchdog resets;

verify safe behavior and recovery paths.

* Instrument and diagnose: collect structured logs/metrics; create packet and

log scrapers; use Wireshark, logic-analyzer traces, and serial/TCP/UDP

sniffers to isolate timing and state issues quickly.

* Own defect triage: minimize and reproduce; file high-signal reports with

traces, steps, suspected root cause; track to closure with responsible

engineers.

* Shift-left quality with the team: review code/IDLs from a testability lens,

encourage dependency hygiene, feature flags, determinism controls, and golden

datasets.

* Integrate into CI/CD (GitLab/Jenkins): hardware runners for on-bench smoke,

protocol/regression gates, and per-target artifact validation

(e.g., .bin/.hex, DFU, OTA).

* Contribute to safety, security, and reliability hardening aligned to

MIL-STD/DO guidance (negative testing, fuzzing on parsers, permission audits,

fail-safe defaults, persistent-state hygiene).

* Produce crisp test docs (plans, procedures, bench/bring-up checklists) and

mentor engineers on embedded QA techniques and automation patterns.

QUALIFICATIONS

* Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Engineering, or related

field

* 5+ years professional QA/SDET experience, including automation

for embedded/real-time or safety-critical systems.

* Hands-on testing for embedded Linux and/or RTOS (e.g., NuttX, FreeRTOS, PX4)

and driver/HAL layers across UART/SPI/I²C/CAN-FD/Ethernet.

* Practical experience building automated tests with Python (pytest/Robot or

equivalent) controlling benches over serial/CAN/Ethernet; comfort

with C/C++ artifacts and host-based unit tests (gtest).

* Comfortable validating networked real-time systems (MAVLink,

DDS, WebSockets), async I/O, and telemetry flows under constrained or lossy

links.

* Proficient with Linux and Windows test environments, CLI tooling, scripting

(Python/Bash/PowerShell), and Git.

* Experience integrating test suites into CI/CD (GitLab CI/Jenkins/GitHub

Actions) and working with firmware packaging/bootloaders/OTA.

* Strong exploratory testing, defect isolation, and written communication—able

to translate flight and bring-up workflows into crisp, testable scenarios.

* U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government

security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

* Deep experience with HIL/SIL design (sensor and bus emulation, fault

injection, golden-trace comparison) and data-driven test design.

* Experience with PX4/ArduPilot middleware, uORB/parameters, and flight-control

logging; familiarity with QGroundControl mission/telemetry workflows.

* Protocol/domain knowledge: MAVLink, STANAG 4586, Cursor-on-Target, DDS/RTPS,

CAN diagnostics.

* Comfort with radios, GNSS, IMUs, payload interfaces, and lab bring-up; basic

electronics (oscilloscope/logic-analyzer/JTAG) a plus.

* Performance/reliability testing: stress/soak/latency, boot-time and watchdog

behavior, power-interrupt/EMI considerations; awareness

of DO-178C/DO-160/MIL-STD-810/461 practices.

* Experience with Yocto/Buildroot, containerized benches (Docker/Podman), and

artifact reproducibility.

* Test management/reporting (e.g., TestRail/Jira) and metrics for release

readiness.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

* Onsite at San Diego HQ with frequent hands-on work at benches and labs; tight

collaboration with avionics, autonomy, payload, manufacturing, and Flight

Test.

* Occasional local field/range support for pre-flight validation; some travel

(<20%).

* Fast-paced, iterative development with tight feedback loops; you’ll help

harden reliability before software reaches Flight Test.

* Ability to lift/move lab kits (~25 lbs) occasionally and follow lab/range

safety procedures.

COMPENSATION

US Salary Range: $140,000 – $185,000 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 visions plans

* 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals

* Unlimited PTO

* Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in

December.

* Generous Parental Leave

* FSA

* 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.

ITAR COMPLIANCE

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) 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.

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 [email protected]

[[email protected]] so we can provide the support you need.