Ground Software Engineer

Help Build Europe's Hypersonic Capability

At Hypersonica, we’re redefining what’s possible in European defence technology. We exist to deliver speed, resilience, and technological independence at a pace that sets a new standard. We are a small, elite team working on problems that matter, and solving them fast.

As our Ground Software Engineer you’re not stepping into a predefined role. You’re joining a talent dense environment where every individual shapes the direction of the company. Our philosophy is to hire a small number of exceptional people with broad, deep technical capability, strong judgement, and the ability to operate autonomously.

We hire for talent, not rigid boxes. This role represents a business need, but the way it evolves will be shaped by the individual. If you’ve achieved what others said was impossible, or you bring a unique combination of skills that doesn’t fit a traditional mould, we want to hear from you. The work you do here directly contributes to Europe’s technological independence.

What you'll do

• Design and develop ground software used for mission preparation, execution, and monitoring of hypersonic systems.
• Build robust, user facing applications for Linux and Windows environments that support operators and engineers during real missions.
• Implement high performance C++ software with a focus on reliability, usability, and maintainability.
• Develop intuitive user interfaces and workflows to visualise system state, mission data, and operational status.
• Integrate ground software with simulation, test, and live system interfaces to support end to end operations.
• Work closely with systems, GNC, test, and operations teams to translate mission needs into effective software tools.
• Where useful, leverage UI frameworks (e.g. Qt) and mapping or visualisation SDKs to accelerate development.

Who you are

• A software engineer with 3+ years’ experience building ground or operator-facing software in aerospace, defence, or complex technical domains.
• Comfortable developing user-facing applications on Linux and Windows, with an understanding of operational reliability.
• Fluent in modern C++, with an instinct for performance, robustness, and clean architecture.
• Someone who cares deeply about operator experience, clarity, and usability in high-pressure environments.
• Experienced translating mission and system needs into practical software tools, not just features.
• Pragmatic about tooling, with exposure to UI frameworks such as Qt and an interest in visualisation or mapping technologies.
• Able to move quickly in a startup environment, balancing polish with delivery speed.
• Motivated by building software that operators trust during real missions, not demo-only systems.

What we offer

• A mission driven environment with the opportunity to work on one of Europe’s most consequential defence challenges, with direct impact on sovereign capability and security.
• Daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and defence, with real opportunity to learn from the best, contribute, and grow.
• High ownership and autonomy; no time tracking, no micromanagement, just clear objectives and accountability for outcomes.
• A fast paced environment where good ideas are implemented quickly, and feedback from test and flight drives real decisions.
• A culture that values clarity, integrity, and excellence, and supports people who take initiative and push boundaries responsibly.
• Competitive compensation and real share options aligned to responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.