Senior SDK Engineer

About the Role

• Design and implement SparkSDK core modules using modern C++. • Create and maintain language bindings/FFIs for C/C++, Java, Python, C# (and optionally Rust). • Define versioned APIs with SemVer and produce SDK packages for Linux, Windows, and Android. • Integrate communication and payload protocols using Protobuf or FlatBuffers and connect to EmberCore middleware. • Deliver developer resources such as samples, quickstarts, documentation, and logging/telemetry hooks. • Ensure real‑time, mission‑critical performance with deterministic behavior, zero‑copy paths, and bounded latency. • Harden security by employing memory‑safe patterns, least‑privilege design, and encrypted transport. • Build CI/CD pipelines with cross‑platform builds, automated tests, fuzzing, and sanitizers. • Collaborate with platform, autonomy, avionics, and external partners to gather requirements and support field integrations. • Provide diagnostics, tracing, metrics, compatibility matrices, and upgrade playbooks for customers.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸core development
• ▸language bindings
• ▸api packaging
• ▸protocol integration
• ▸ci/cd pipelines
• ▸security hardening

What You Bring

• BS/MS in Computer Science or related field. • 5+ years experience building SDKs or platform APIs in modern C++ with cross‑platform delivery. • U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a government security clearance. • Proven ability to create language wrappers/FFIs for at least two languages (Java, Python, C#). • 3+ years integrating real‑time or mission‑critical systems and event‑driven networking. • Familiarity with defense protocols (e.g., MAVLink, STANAG 4586) and data serialization formats. • Expertise in secure coding, OpenSSL/libsodium, and dependency hygiene. • Experience with CMake, Conan/vcpkg and packaging for Linux, Windows, and Android. • Strong problem‑solving and communication skills, end‑to‑end feature ownership. • Prior work on SDKs with strict API stability and SemVer discipline. • Experience with ROS 2, gRPC, ZeroMQ and protocol gateways. • Knowledge of telemetry, observability, and structured logging for SDKs. • Background in embedded/Linux (Yocto/Buildroot) and constrained targets. • Performance tuning using profilers and sanitizer tools. • Understanding of geospatial data formats and GCS integrations. • Experience with MIL‑STD or DO‑178C safety/security standards. • History of mentoring, code reviews, and enforcing modern C++ best practices. • Willingness to travel up to 15% domestically.

Requirements

• ▸c++
• ▸cmake
• ▸secure coding
• ▸ros 2
• ▸embedded linux
• ▸bs/ms

Benefits

This position can be based on‑site at Firestorm’s headquarters in San Diego, CA, or worked remotely, with up to 15% domestic travel required. The salary range is $164,000 – $183,000, reflecting factors such as experience, education, location, and market conditions. Firestorm offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan, equity grants for new hires, unlimited paid time off, a generous holiday calendar, parental leave, a lifestyle spending account, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, extensive insurance coverage, 24/7 mental health resources, and free legal and financial support services. • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans. • 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching. • Equity grants for new hires. • Unlimited paid time off and generous holiday calendar. • Parental leave and lifestyle spending account. • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA, DC FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA). • Hospital indemnity, critical illness, accident, and disability insurance fully covered. • Free 24/7 mental health resources, including therapy. • Access to free legal and financial support services.

Work Environment

Onsite