Software Engineer Independent Contractor Jobs in Nevada

Kraus Hamdani Aerospace is seeking a versatile Software Engineer to design, build, deploy, and support software for autonomous aircraft systems.

This role is ideal for a strong software engineering generalist who is comfortable working across different parts of the technology stack and taking ownership of loosely defined technical problems. The successful candidate will be able to translate evolving requirements into sound technical solutions, make independent engineering decisions, and drive work from initial concept and requirements through development, testing, deployment, and ongoing support.

The Software Engineer will work closely with flight test, hardware, systems, operations, and other engineering teams to develop reliable and maintainable software supporting KHA's aircraft, internal systems, and broader product ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Software Design & Development

• Design, develop, test, and maintain software supporting KHA's autonomous aircraft systems and related products.
• Build and maintain substantial web applications using modern software development frameworks and practices, with TypeScript as a significant part of the technology stack.
• Develop software that emphasizes static type safety, maintainability, modularity, testability, and long-term scalability.
• Contribute across frontend, backend, cloud, infrastructure, and other areas of the software stack as required.
• Develop and support software using C/C++ and/or Rust where appropriate.
• Evaluate technical approaches and make sound design decisions when requirements are incomplete, ambiguous, or evolving.

Deployment, Infrastructure & DevOps

• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines, build systems, automated testing environments, and deployment processes.
• Support production software deployments and software used in operational and flight environments.
• Work with cloud platforms, infrastructure, networking, and DevOps tooling to support reliable software operation.
• Help establish repeatable processes for software deployment, configuration, updates, monitoring, and support.
• Diagnose and resolve issues across applications, networks, cloud infrastructure, build environments, and deployed systems.

Testing, Reliability & Maintainability

• Develop automated tests and other validation methods to improve software quality and reliability.
• Participate in software reviews, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Identify technical debt, architectural limitations, and reliability risks and recommend appropriate improvements.
• Develop software and systems with consideration for long-term maintainability, reuse, scalability, and operational support.
• Contribute to software documentation, technical standards, and engineering best practices.

Cross-Functional Engineering Support

• Work closely with flight test, hardware, embedded systems, controls, GNC, operations, and other engineering teams.
• Support integration of software with aircraft systems, ground systems, hardware, and other technical platforms.
• Participate in system integration, testing, troubleshooting, and deployment activities.
• Translate operational and engineering needs into practical software solutions.
• Communicate software dependencies, technical risks, design decisions, and implementation requirements effectively to both software and non-software stakeholders.
• Support field, test, and operational activities when software engineering expertise is required.

Required Qualifications

• Strong professional software engineering experience developing and supporting production software.
• Experience building substantial web applications, with TypeScript as a significant part of the technology stack.
• Strong understanding and appreciation for static type safety, maintainability, automated testing, and sound software design principles.
• Experience with modern frontend development.
• Experience working with cloud platforms and DevOps tooling.
• Experience developing or maintaining CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, build systems, and production deployment processes.
• Professional experience with C/C++ and/or Rust.
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills across applications, networks, cloud infrastructure, and deployed systems.
• Ability to work effectively with ambiguous or evolving requirements and independently drive work from definition through completion.
• Ability to operate effectively across multiple areas of a product and technology stack rather than within a narrowly defined specialization.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with flight test, hardware, systems, operations, and other non-software engineering teams.
• Strong ownership mentality and ability to independently identify and solve technical problems.
• Must meet applicable U.S. defense and security eligibility requirements.

Desired Experience

The following experience is not required but would be advantageous:

• Embedded systems development.
• Aerospace, robotics, autonomous systems, or unmanned aircraft systems.
• ArduPilot.
• MAVLink.
• Flight-control systems.
• Ground-control systems.
• Software integration with physical hardware or electromechanical systems.
• Software supporting flight test, field operations, or other mission-critical environments.

Personal Attributes

• Strong generalist who enjoys solving problems across different technical domains.
• Comfortable operating in an environment where requirements may not initially be fully defined.
• Independent and capable of driving work without extensive direction.
• Thoughtful and disciplined in technical decision-making.
• Strong attention to software quality and long-term maintainability.
• Adaptable and willing to move between different parts of the software stack as company priorities evolve.
• Collaborative and able to communicate effectively with engineers and stakeholders from different technical disciplines.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving aerospace development environment.
• Takes ownership of problems and follows them through deployment and resolution.

Who We Are
KHA develops the world's longest endurance fully electric Unmanned Aerial System ("UAS") in our size and weight category. We solve large-scale worldwide problems by providing persistent overhead services to help our soldiers remain safe in theater, provision rapid emergency communications for disaster relief efforts, enable search-and-rescue services to assist emergency response efforts, help anti-poaching efforts protect the world's most endangered species, and provide geospatial data to assist in slowing climate change.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Complete health care package
• Additional employee benefits consistent with KHA's current benefit programs

How to Apply
Please submit your resume and contact information outlining your relevant software engineering experience. Qualified candidates will be contacted directly regarding next steps.