Virginia Beach, VA

Salary
—
Posted
Aug 18, 2026
Location
Virginia Beach, VA
Last confirmed open
Sep 25, 2026

What this job asks for AI summary

This role involves developing, integrating, and deploying software for unmanned aerial and ground systems in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. Day-to-day work spans embedded systems, autonomous navigation, mission planning applications, sensor fusion, and communications protocols — primarily in C, C++, and Python. The position is based on-site in Virginia Beach and is contingent upon contract award.

Mid level · 3+ years · Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC · Secret clearance · Full-time

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Must have (16)
CC++PythonBetaFlightArduPilotPX4MAVLinkQGroundControlQtQMLTCP/IPIMUGPSLiDARCADAgile
Nice to have (1)
Commercial UAS platforms

We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.

How this req sits in the market our data

What gives you an edge
TCP/IP12%

Rare in this occupation — lead with these, and say what you built with them.

What won't set you apart
Python51%

Most people in this occupation already list these. Still required — just not what gets you shortlisted.

What the occupation pays Median $131,929 (middle half $101,412–$164,081).

Estimated from BLS employment for this occupation and area, per-skill prevalence across our listing corpus, and published wage benchmarks — as of Aug 20, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.

Why we read it this way (8)

The posting requires an active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility — not a full TS/SCI grant. The clearance gate is Secret; TS/SCI eligibility is an additional condition but not a held clearance.

Experience minimum is 3 years with a degree or 7 years without — the overall years minimum reflects the lower (degree) path. The degree itself is not strictly required when equivalent experience is accepted.

The role is contingent upon contract award, which may affect actual hiring timing.

Group 3 UAS experience and commercial UAS familiarity are listed as 'desirable' and 'preferred' respectively in the required qualifications block — treated as preferred given the explicit softening language.

Sensor fusion technologies (IMU, GPS, cameras, LiDAR) are listed together as a single requirement; each is extracted as a separate skill for clarity. Cameras are omitted as a standalone skill since 'camera' names a hardware category rather than a specific technology tool.

The seniority band is Mid: the minimum experience gate is 3 years and the scope — embedded software, protocol integration, autonomy — is consistent with an independent mid-level contributor rather than a senior engineer owning a component end-to-end.

Ignored 1 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): Group 3 Unmanned Systems.

Requires a Secret clearance — the cleared population is a small fraction of this occupation, so the real candidate pool is materially smaller than the estimate below, which does not model clearance.

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