About the Role

Mission Development Lead (Software)

Swarm Aero is redefining air power, building the largest swarming UAV and most versatile swarming aircraft network in the world. The company is moving quickly to launch the first aircraft designed specifically for swarming as well as the Command & Control software to mobilize swarms of thousands of heterogeneous autonomous assets and empower human operators to achieve superhuman results.   

The team has created and exited multiple startups, negotiated defense deals worth billions of dollars and designed and built 30+ novel aircraft, with aerospace experience from Scaled Composites, Airbus, Archer Aviation, Blue Origin, and Boom Supersonic. 

As a Mission Development Lead (Software), you will expand the adoption and reach of our best in class Legion software product. You will work directly with customers to understand their needs, represent their circumstances internally as you interface closely with engineering teams, and shape and capture opportunities.

WHAT YOU’LL DO: 

• Radical responsibility and ownership: You will be asked to own your portfolio from day one. Rapid learning, iteration, and tenacity are key as you lead and shape the ideas and actions that get things done. 

• Customer obsession: You will work closely with clients to grok their challenges and missions from first principles. You will translate that back to your colleagues.

• Technical curiosity: You will be directly involved in product as you work closely with Swarm Aero engineers to build relevant products for your client’s operational needs. You will be proactively, constantly learning about customer needs and what technology can bring for them.

• Seek and find: You will identify, evaluate and pursue opportunities and contribute ideas to others on your team.  

• Structure: You will provide organization and insight to complex pools of information to enable clear transfer of perspectives. You will use this to generate highly effective communications in artifacts like white papers, proposals, presentations, and analysis for internal and external audiences.

• Organize and scale: To organize is to create. As the company and your portfolio grows, so will your involvement in leading mission execution and bringing organization to many parallel threads. You will manage complex accounts and relationships efficiently and precisely. 

WHAT YOU’VE DONE: 

• Moved with urgency to make big things happen

• Experience with complex hardware and software systems

• Experience managing complex technical projects

• Experience in business development, productization, and contracting 

WHAT SETS YOU APART: 

• Mission alignment

• Strong writing and research skills  

• Comfortable with setting and achieving goals in an amorphous environment  

• An enthusiasm for and broad knowledge of technology development

• Humility

• Ability to travel 25 – 75% required

• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance 

What we Offer

• Meaningful equity stake in a high-growth defense technology company

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience

• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and 401k

• PTO and Paid Sick Time

• Monthly Wellness Stipend

• Daily catered lunch to office

• Paid Parental leave

• Flexible work arrangement - remote/hybrid with regular collaboration in Oxnard

• Direct impact opportunity - be a key leader in building a critical technology for national security

• World-class team - work alongside exceptional engineers and operators solving hard problems

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and trustworthy work environment, Swarm Aero conducts a thorough screening of prospective employees. Candidates will be subject to a comprehensive background verification process as a prerequisite for employment. 

To conform to U.S. Government controlled 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 eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

About the Company

Swarm Aero is pioneering the future of air power by developing radically efficient, large-scale UAV (uncrewed aerial vehicle) swarms designed for both defense and commercial applications. Their technology enables small teams to command thousands of autonomous vehicles across air, sea, and ground domains, even in communications-limited and contested environments. Swarm Aero’s UAVs are built from the ground up for collaborative autonomy, leveraging advanced sensor meshes, edge computing, and browser-based, platform-agnostic control interfaces. The company’s solutions are tailored for adaptive sensing, intelligence, resilient communications, logistics, disaster response, and defense, offering a cost-effective and scalable alternative to traditional, high-cost military aircraft.

Potential employees at Swarm Aero will appreciate the company’s culture of rapid innovation, tight design-build-test cycles, and a mission-driven environment focused on redefining what aircraft can achieve. The leadership team brings experience from record-breaking aviation projects, high-rate aerospace manufacturing, and successful tech startups, fostering a collaborative and ambitious workplace. Swarm Aero is backed by top-tier investors and is actively expanding, offering opportunities to work on cutting-edge technology with real-world impact in national security and beyond.
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Swarm Aero
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Swarm Aero

Mission Development Lead (Software)

Type
full-time
Department
Mission
Location
D.C.
Salary
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