Ground Software Manager

Employer description

Who we are

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.

As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.

What you will be doing

Neros is building the software that operators use to fly and command our drones in the field. As Ground Software Manager, you will lead the team responsible for the Ground Control Station (GCS) and all operator-facing software — mission planning, low-latency video, telemetry, multi-vehicle workflows, and integration with external command-and-control (C2) systems. You will own the reliability, release cadence, and quality of the operator experience while growing and leading the team that builds it.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the Ground Software engineering team, including hiring, mentorship, and performance management
• Own the architecture and delivery of the Ground Control Station (GCS) and operator-facing software across desktop and field/ruggedized platforms
• Own the low-latency video/sensor display pipeline and the operator UX that must stay clear and usable under field stress
• Own multi-vehicle / swarm operator workflows and integration with external C2 and tools (e.g. ATAK)
• Drive predictable, safe software releases for operator-facing systems and steward the long-term health of the codebase
• Set and uphold engineering quality practices — code review, testing, and CI/CD
• Own the team's test strategy and unit/integration testing, partnering with the Test organization on shared infrastructure

You should have the following

• Has led a software team as a hands-on manager — owning both people management and technical direction
• Strong background building user-facing or operator-facing software for demanding, real-world use — mission-critical, field-deployed, real-time, or otherwise high-stakes environments
• Hands-on depth in at least one core GCS area: operator UX, real-time/low-latency video, or telemetry/command pipelines
• Track record of shipping reliable software on hard deadlines, where the work depended on physical hardware or had to perform in the field
• Strong judgment on test rigor, technical debt, and quality for operationally-critical software
• Able to operate as the interface between the team and senior leadership — managing expectations upward and clearing execution blockers for the team

Nice to have

• Experience with Ground Control Station / UAS operator software (e.g. ATAK/TAK, QGroundControl, Mission Planner, or comparable)
• Low-latency video pipeline experience (RTSP/WebRTC/GStreamer or similar)
• Geospatial / mapping experience (offline maps, tactical overlays, terrain)
• Multi-vehicle / swarm operator UX experience
• Experience integrating with external C2 / military command systems

US Salary Range

$198,000 - $277,500 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.