Principal Airborne LiDAR Systems Engineer at Woolpert · Location…

We seek to move the world forward through innovative thinking.
Woolpert is an award-winning, global leader in architecture, engineering, and geospatial services. We blend design excellence with cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional client value. Our team is passionate about their work and committed to building the next generation of industry leaders, and as a certified Great Place to Work®, Woolpert embraces progress and innovation to create limitless opportunities for career growth.
Position Overview
Woolpert is seeking an Embedded Systems & Sensor Software Engineer to join our growing Advanced Sensing team to lead the development of software, embedded systems, and operator experiences for next-generation airborne LiDAR and remote sensing platforms.
This role serves as the technical bridge between sensor hardware, avionics, aircraft operations, data acquisition systems, calibration workflows, maintenance processes, and end-user applications. The successful candidate will own the software architecture that enables sensor operation from hardware control through field deployment, diagnostics, and lifecycle support.
This is a highly visible technical leadership role responsible for transforming advanced sensor technology into reliable, scalable, and intuitive operational systems.
We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.  Applicants must already possess work authorization in the country the job is located.
What You Will Do:
Embedded Systems Architecture
Lead the design and development of embedded software architectures for airborne LiDAR and imaging systems.
Develop and maintain software supporting:
Sensor control
Data acquisition
Timing and synchronization
Hardware monitoring
Communications interfaces
Health and status reporting
Define software requirements and system interfaces across hardware, firmware, and application layers.
Sensor Integration
Integrate software with:
Laser subsystems
LIDAR sensor
Detector electronics
GNSS/INS systems
Cameras
Aircraft interfaces
Data storage systems
Support laboratory integration, aircraft integration, and operational deployment activities.
User Experience & Operator Tools
Lead development of intuitive operator and maintenance interfaces.
Design software that simplifies:
Sensor startup
Mission execution
Calibration procedures
Diagnostic workflows
Maintenance activities
Partner with flight crews and field engineers to improve operational efficiency and reduce training requirements.
Reliability & Maintainability
Develop health monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions.
Create automated diagnostic and fault reporting capabilities.
Support root-cause investigations for field issues and system failures.
Drive strategies that improve fleet reliability and reduce downtime.
System Testing & Validation
Develop software validation and verification methodologies and support.
Environmental testing
Hardware-in-loop testing
Flight testing
Factory acceptance testing
Analyze software and sensor performance data to identify improvement opportunities.
Technical Leadership
Establish software development standards and best practices.
Mentor software and systems engineers.
Participate in technology roadmaps and product strategy discussions.
Support customer demonstrations, technical proposals, and executive briefings.
What You Will Bring:
Education
Bachelor's degree in:
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Computer Science
Aerospace Engineering
Software Engineering
Related technical discipline
Experience
Minimum 7 years of professional software engineering experience.
Minimum 3 years working with embedded systems or hardware-integrated software.
Demonstrated success leading software development for complex technical systems.
Experience supporting products from concept through operational deployment.
Technical Skills
C++
Python
C
C#
Rust
Linux
Embedded Linux
Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS)
Qt or similar UI frameworks
Ethernet
USB
Serial interfaces
CAN Bus
PCIe
Timing and synchronization systems
High-speed data acquisition architectures
Git
CI/CD workflows
Automated testing frameworks
Requirements management tools
#LI-On Site
Benefits You Will Love
Certified as a Great Place to Work, Woolpert is one of the fastest-growing architecture, engineering, and geospatial companies in the world. With over 75 offices and countless projects around the globe, you’ll work on meaningful assignments that improve quality of life around the world. In addition to offering competitive pay, we provide employees with a robust set of unique benefits, including:
Freedom to Work program: Set your own schedule and location (as appropriate).
Principal program: Earn the opportunity to become an owner of the firm.
Flexible paid time off/vacation: Take time off when it makes sense for you and your team.
Career development: Explore a wide range of learning and growth opportunities within and across industries.
Health, life, vision, and dental insurance: Cover all your medical bases.
Paid sick time, retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, pet insurance, identity protection, technology stipend, employee assistance program, and more!
Base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Pay Range
$101,000—$126,500 USD
Find out more about what Woolpert has to offer here:  http://woolpert.com/about-us/
Woolpert is an equal-opportunity employer. Woolpert is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals. We recruit, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.  You may view more about EEO on our website: Equal-Employment-Opportunity-The-Law.pdf and EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.
Applicants who require an accommodation throughout the application and interview process should request this in advance by contacting your Recruiter
To all agencies: Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee of Woolpert or any of our subsidiaries about this requisition. All resumes submitted by search firms/employment agencies to any employee at Woolpert via email, the internet, or in any form and/or method will be deemed the sole property of Woolpert, unless such search firms/employment agencies were engaged by Woolpert's Talent Acquisition Team for this requisition and a valid agreement is in place. In the event a candidate who was submitted outside of Woolpert's applicant process is hired, no fee or payment of any kind will be paid.