Subject Matter Expert (SME) & Lead Developer

About the role

Radiance Technologies, a rapidly growing employee-owned company, is seeking an exceptionally skilled Subject Matter Expert (SME) & Principal Lead Developer to drive the hands-on design, development, prototyping, and integration of core missile subsystems. In this role, you will be the lead hands-on technical practitioner across mechanical hardware, real-time embedded software, computer engineering architectures, Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) algorithms, and Control Actuation Systems (CAS).

Working under the direction of the Program Chief Engineer (who holds final airworthiness and system sign-off authority), you will serve as the primary hands-on technical architect and lead developer-translating top-level program requirements into production-ready flight code, integrated actuator mechanisms, low-latency bus architectures, and high-fidelity HWIL testbeds.

Key Responsibilities

• Multidisciplinary Lead Development & Prototyping
• Act as the lead hands-on developer across mechanical structures, embedded software, onboard computer architectures, GNC algorithms, and CAS actuation subsystems.
• Formulate, model, and execute multi-domain trade studies-balancing mechanical mass/inertia constraints, aerothermal loading, computational throughput, and control loop latency for presentation to the Chief Engineer.
• Draft system and subsystem technical specifications, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and qualification plans for review and approval by the Chief Engineer.
• Control Actuation Systems (CAS) & Mechanical Implementation
• Lead the hands-on engineering, dynamic modeling, and laboratory integration of high-speed Control Actuation Systems (electromechanical, hydraulic, or cold-gas thrusters).
• Analyze fin/nozzle dynamic response, thermal limits, high-torque gearbox compliance, and motor drive performance under extreme G-force and aerodynamic load environments.
• Troubleshoot complex physical-electrical-hydraulic failure modes, structural resonances, non-linearities (backlash, hysteresis), and mechanical compliance issues.
• GNC Algorithm Development & Flight Code Generation
• Lead the formulation, numerical simulation, and code implementation of advanced GNC algorithms, autopilot loops, Kalman filters, and trajectory optimization routines.
• Translate complex 6-DOF (Degrees of Freedom) flight dynamics models into deterministic, real-time C/C++ code executed on onboard flight processors.
• Evaluate missile maneuvering performance, dynamic stability, and guidance accuracy across subsonic through hypersonic regimes.
• Software Architecture & Embedded Computer Engineering
• Architect low-level embedded software frameworks for onboard flight computers, processing units (FPGA, DSP, SoC), and real-time communication buses.
• Implement performance-optimized C/C++ code, managing RTOS task prioritization, memory allocation, multi-core synchronization, and interrupt service routines.
• Conduct hardware/software co-design to ensure seamless interface timing between flight computers, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), seekers, and CAS drive electronics.
• HWIL Development, Testing, & Root-Cause Analysis
• Design, build, and maintain Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) and Processor-in-the-Loop (PIL) simulation setups to test flight software against physical actuators and hardware under test.
• Implement Verification, Validation, and Accreditation (VV&A) procedures for simulation tools and test beds.
• Deploy to remote proving grounds and flight test ranges to support pre-flight checkouts, real-time telemetry decoding, and post-flight anomaly root-cause analysis for the Chief Engineer.

Required Qualifications & Technical Background

• Education: B.S. with 25+ years, M.S. with 15+ years, or Ph.D. with 10+ years of hands-on experience in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science.
• Hands-on Development Track Record: Demonstrated experience as a lead technical developer or primary architect on at least one guided weapon, missile, or interceptor program from initial code/cad through flight test.
• Mechanical & CAS Skills:
• Practical expertise in missile mechanical structures, aerothermal heating considerations, structural dynamics, and electromechanical actuator (EMA/CAS) integration.
• GNC & Flight Mechanics:
• Advanced capability in control theory, 6-DOF modeling, trajectory design, and guidance implementation.
• Software & Embedded Systems:
• Advanced proficiency in C / C++, Python, and MATLAB / Simulink (including automated flight code generation via Embedded Coder).
• Hands-on RTOS development (VxWorks, Linux PREEMPT_RT, Green Hills INTEGRITY) and embedded bus integration (MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, Ethernet/UDP, PCIe, CAN, SPI, RS-422).
• Security Clearance: Must possess an active US DoW Secret security clearance

Desired Qualifications

• Working knowledge of MIL-STD-882 (System Safety) or DO-178C software development practices.
• Experience interfacing directly with Chief Engineers, IPT Leads, and DoW customer technical teams during design reviews (PDR/CDR).