Senior Software Engineer, Tactical Assault Kit (TAK)

Remote
Full Time
Experienced

Senior Software Engineer, Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) 
Full-time  
Location: Remote or San Diego office 

Company Overview: 

Firestorm as a company grew out of the simple question: how does a US ally country with a relatively low defense budget deter an aggressor state entity with a vastly larger war chest? We’re building the very answer to that question, something we call “democratized deterrence.” Firestorm is a VC-backed, defense-meets-Silicon Valley technology company developing mission-adaptable aerial vehicles to put the power back into the hands of the operator. We aim to upend the current defense procurement cost paradigm by bringing world-class capabilities to bear at meaningfully lower costs. 

About the Role: 

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer, Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) to join our team, either remotely or at our San Diego office. In this pivotal role, you will architect and develop solutions across the TAK ecosystem—most notably ATAK—to support real-time communication, situational awareness, and mission execution for defense and tactical operations. Your mastery of Android, Java and / or Kotlin, plus practical experience with the TAK Product Center, will drive the design, implementation, and deployment of capabilities that directly serve frontline operators. You’ll also leverage knowledge of joint operations, security protocols, and tactical workflows to ensure the software you build meets the rigorous demands of defense scenarios. 

What You'll Be Doing: 

  • Design and implement ATAK plugins, features, and integrations in Java or Kotlin. 

  • Manage the complete lifecycle—from requirements gathering and system design to testing, deployment, and sustainment—of ATAK-based solutions. 

  • Contribute to and navigate official TAK repositories, maintaining alignment with community standards and ensuring smooth coordination with external stakeholders. 

  • Proactively engage with TAK community initiatives to remain on the cutting edge of feature updates and best practices. 

  • Deploy, configure, and manage TAK Server environments to support mission-critical services. 

  • Integrate and maintain video/media servers for real-time streaming to TAK clients. 

  • Implement secure data ingestion, distribution, and caching mechanisms that enhance situational awareness without compromising system performance. 

  • Translate complex operational requirements into intuitive user experience aligned with tactical workflows. 

  • UI asset creation and ensure overall interface design are optimized for ease of use in austere and high-intensity environments. 

  • Apply knowledge of TTPs, joint operational procedures, and industry-standard protocols (e.g., MAVLink, Link 16, OMNI) to develop robust, secure solutions for cross-platform interoperability. 

  • Evaluate and integrate UAS systems into TAK workflows, providing advanced command-and-control capabilities. 

  • Serve as a primary technical touchpoint for government, military, and commercial clients. 

  • Gather feedback, offer guidance, and deliver product training sessions and ensure solutions meet real-world requirements. 

  • Perform baseline system administration tasks for staging, production, and test environments. 

  • Implement and maintain best practices for secure data handling, network configurations, and user access controls. 

  • Work closely with cross-functional teams (software, hardware, operations) to align TAK capabilities with broader organizational objectives. 

  • Mentor junior engineers, review code, and uphold high-quality development standards. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. 

  • 5+ years of software development experience, with a proven focus on Java and/or Kotlin. 

  • 5+ years of experience developing for Android, including using Android Studio IDE, Android SDK, Android NDK, Gradle build system, Jetpack libraries, Firebase services. 

  • Deep expertise in the Android architecture, including an understanding of the Activity lifecycle, Services, Broadcast Receivers, and Content Providers, coupled with a strong understanding of the Android kernel. 

  • Demonstrated success building and maintaining ATAK/TAK solutions, including plugin creation and system integration. 

  • Very good understanding of the Cursor-On-Target message formats and its different sub-schemas.

  • Hands-on familiarity with the TAK Product Center, including code contributions, community collaboration, and plugin lifecycle management. 

  • Strong background in defense or tactical UX, understanding constraints, user workflows, and operational requirements. 

  • Customer-facing experience, including ability to translate technical solutions into operator-friendly capabilities. 

  • U.S. citizenship is required, alongside the ability to obtain U.S. Government security clearance. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Experience configuring, securing, and optimizing TAK Server infrastructures. 

  • Ability to seamlessly integrate C++ code into Android applications using the Android NDK and JNI. 

  • Proven capability in deploying and managing real-time streaming systems connected to TAK platforms. 

  • Familiarity with Linux or Windows Server environments, including scripting and automation. 

  • Hands-on experience building or customizing UI elements and overlays for mission-critical applications. 

  • Direct engagement with military units, joint operations, or specialized defense programs is a strong bonus. 

  • Knowledge of unmanned aerial systems, including flight dynamics, sensor feeds, and communication protocols. 

  • Experience implementing encryption, authentication, and secure communication methodologies in restricted environments. 

  • Knowledge in adapting commercial mobile technologies to meet the rigorous demands of military environments, including compliance with MIL-STD or similar standards (MAVLink, Link 16, or OMNI). 

What Makes You a Good Fit: 

  • You combine expertise in software engineering with domain knowledge of TAK solutions and defense protocols. 

  • You understand real-world tactical challenges and design solutions that work effectively in austere or time-sensitive environments. 

  • You thrive on cross-functional teamwork—coordinating with developers, operators, and product managers to deliver the best possible results. 

  • You welcome rapidly evolving technologies and are comfortable iterating quickly to stay ahead of shifting requirements. 

  • You exercise rigorous standards in coding, testing, and documentation, ensuring mission reliability and operator trust. 

  • You continuously explore emerging tools and best practices, proactively shaping the future of TAK-based applications. 

Bonus Points: 

  • Experience in publishing apps to Google Play Store. 

  • Active participation in open-source projects related to TAK or other mission-critical systems. 

  • Possession of an active clearance, or prior experience navigating the accreditation process. 

  • Combat/field deployment experience, demonstrating real-world use of ATAK or similar systems in active operations or training exercises. 

  • Experience optimizing network performance and streaming protocols (RTSP, SRT, etc.) in tactical environments. 

  • Knowledge of mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) solutions. 

  • Background in secure DevOps practices, integrating robust test automation and code scanning into continuous delivery pipelines. 

Firestorm is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. Our culture at Firestorm fosters collaboration, respect, and trust to empower passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. 

As a Senior Software Engineer, Tactical Assault Kit, you will play a vital role in advancing mission-critical capabilities for operators in real-world tactical scenarios. You’ll bring experience, innovation, and commitment to a highly specialized domain—redefining how technology meets defense. 

Salary range: up to $180,000. 

To apply, please fill out the online application and attach your resume.  Please include your LinkedIn profile link. 
 
[email protected] 

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