Staff Software Engineer, Data

WAYFINDER

Our Wayfinder team is building scalable, certifiable autonomy systems to power the next generation of commercial aircraft. Our team of experts is driving the maturation of machine learning and other core technologies for autonomous flight; we are creating a reference architecture that includes hardware, software, and a data-driven development process to allow aircraft to perceive and react to their environment. Autonomous flight is transforming the transportation industry, and our team is at the heart of this revolution.

The Opportunity/Role Description

We are looking for an experienced Staff Software Engineer, Data to drive data performance and reliability for safety-critical commercial aviation systems. In this hands-on role, you will bridge gaps in data coverage, take ownership, and establish quality standards to ensure our machine learning models operate at peak performance in varying and challenging safety critical environments to improve operational safety in aviation.

Responsibilities

• Identify and address gaps in data coverage, ensuring consistent data flows that support robust ML model performance by “closing the loop” from model development to testing to data collection and creation.
• Develop and implement actionable metrics to continuously monitor, evaluate, and improve data quality and availability.
• Work closely with data scientists and machine learning engineers to refine and curate datasets used in critical models, with a focus on improving the accuracy and robustness of predictions.
• Implement machine learning-based labeling techniques to enhance data labeling accuracy, particularly for sensor data (including visual and infrared camera data).
• Work with sensor data, especially from visual and IR cameras, and have a working knowledge of embeddings and vector databases to improve machine learning model inputs.
• Help design, implement, and maintain data pipelines that support the ingestion, transformation, and availability of high-quality datasets at scale.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (including software engineering, tooling, flight test, simulation, data engineering, and ML) to address bottlenecks in data availability, focus data collection methods, and ensure comprehensive data coverage.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong coding skills in Python (Pandas, PySpark) and experience working with SQL and Analytics databases.
• 11 years of experience in a Staff-level software/data engineering role, with a strong focus on data quality, availability, and ownership.
• Deep understanding of data pipelines, including experience building, maintaining, and optimizing them for performance and cost-efficiency.
• Familiarity with sensor data processing (visual, IR cameras, LiDAR), and experience with embeddings for sensor data.
• Proficiency in machine learning-based labeling techniques and methods for data quality improvement.
• Experience developing actionable data quality metrics and dashboards to track and improve data performance.
• Knowledge of data management technologies and pipelines (e.g., ETL, data lakes, or similar architectures).
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, focusing on data-driven results.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail in a highly regulated, safety-critical environment.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience working with large-scale, safety-critical datasets, preferably in aviation or similar industries.
• Familiarity with embedding techniques for different data modalities, including sensor and image data.
• Experience implementing ML-based solutions for labeling, categorization, and data processing at scale.

Compensation:

The estimated salary range for this position is $190,000 to $244,000 annually, plus a target bonus and a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), and flight training. Your exact compensation will be determined by your location and experience.

Why Join Us?
Be a part of a dynamic team that values creativity, collaboration, and innovation.  At Acubed, your contributions will directly impact our digital future.  We welcome diverse perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment .

* Please Note that Acubed does not offer sponsorship of employment-based nonimmigrant visa petitions for this role.

Salary : $190,000 - $244,000