We’re a fast-moving team of aviators, engineers, and operators building an AI platform to make flying safer, more efficient, and more capable. Backed by top investors, we’ve secured a dozen Department of Defense contracts and partnered with major airlines to deliver mission-critical systems. We operate without silos or heavy processes. Small, focused teams own what they build, ship quickly, and learn fast, pushing the boundaries of how humans and AI work together in aviation.
We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer to help design and build the advanced pilot assistance software that supports our flight safety platform. In this role, you will develop and deploy autonomy, robotics, and embedded systems that operate in real-world, safety-critical aviation environments. You will take ownership of mission-critical functionality, contribute hands-on across the stack, and mentor a small team while delivering reliable systems that support time-sensitive decision-making for human operators.
What You’ll Do
Design, build, and deploy robotic and embedded software that powers advanced pilot assistance systems in production environments.
Own autonomy-related features or subsystems from concept through deployment, driving work from 0 to 1 with a strong focus on reliability and performance.
Write, review, and maintain high-quality Python and C++ code across autonomy, systems, and embedded components.
Integrate software with hardware, sensors, and perception or data ingestion pipelines to support autonomous and operator-in-the-loop decision-making.
Optimize software for edge compute environments, managing CPU/GPU usage, latency, and implementing appropriate safety mechanisms and fail-safes.
Lead testing, validation, and deployment efforts to ensure systems meet safety-critical and mission-critical requirements.
Mentor engineers and contribute to technical direction through design reviews, code reviews, and hands-on collaboration.
What Will Make You Successful
5+ years of experience designing and deploying robotic software and/or embedded systems in production environments.
Strong software engineering skills in C++ and/or Python, with experience in systems-level or embedded programming.
Experience building real-time or interactive systems that support users making time-sensitive decisions.
Familiarity with autonomy-related systems such as planning, decision-making, or reasoning, and integrating with perception or sensor pipelines.
Hands-on experience working with embedded or edge compute platforms and debugging hardware/software interactions.
Proven ability to deliver complex systems end-to-end in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
Bonus Points
Experience working on safety-critical or mission-critical systems, including aviation or robotics domains.
Familiarity with robot operating systems or middleware such as ROS or DDS.
Experience supporting human operators in the loop, simulation environments, or real-time control systems.
Background in advanced mobility, autonomy, and robotics.
Work Location
This is a hybrid role based in San Carlos, CA, with 3+ days per week onsite and the option to work remotely on remaining days.
Perks & Benefits (Full-Time Employees)
Healthcare: 100%* of employee medical premiums covered; 25% for dependents
Time Off: 3 weeks PTO plus 13+ paid company holidays
Stipends: Monthly phone and wellness benefits
401(k): Offered (no current employer match, but we are committed to enhancing this benefit in the future).
Due to U.S. export control regulations, we can only hire U.S. Persons (U.S. citizens, Green Card holders, lawful permanent residents, or individuals granted asylum or refugee status). We are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support visa transfers. All work must be performed in the United States.
Beacon AI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit harassment or discrimination of any kind in the workplace and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.
Beacon AI is an aviation software company based in Silicon Valley, building advanced systems that serve as a pilot assistant for commercial and defense aviators - think R2-D2 for pilots.
We go beyond traditional autopilot, providing a reliable onboard teammate that enhances safety, efficiency, and situational awareness in a hardware-lite package.
Our mission is to shape the future of flight by equipping pilots with intelligent tools that adapt to complex environments and evolving missions. We’re solving some of aviation’s toughest challenges, from cockpit workload and data overload to predictive safety and autonomous decision support.
Beacon is backed by leading investors, including Costanoa Ventures, Scout Ventures, Sam Altman (via Apollo Projects and Hydrazine Capital), JetBlue Ventures, and Mischief. Our work is also guided by seasoned aviation leaders, including Hon. Robert Sumwalt (former NTSB Chairman) and Ali Bahrami (former FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety).
Our AI Assistant works alongside pilots as a Safety Net, Coach, and Superhuman.
We are hiring for many roles. Check our careers page or reach out if you don't see what you are looking for!
