FlightAware - Software Engineer, Backend (Onsite)

Are you interested in engineering backend software for numerous web-based products that generate billions of views for industry partners and consumers? 

FlightAware, part of Collins Aerospace, has built the world's leading aviation software platform, processing over 300+ million incoming messages an hour from almost 40,000 individual data feeds—more than 5 terabytes a day and growing! We provide the best, most complete, and most accurate real-time flight-tracking service and are proud to have built a wide variety of successful products on this foundation that have become central to the aviation industry at large. 

FlightAware's Backend crew builds state-of-the-art systems that power the FlightAware website and mobile apps used by millions of people. The Backend crew develops and maintains the many data feeds that track aircraft, airport, gates, and more. These systems lead to a single source of truth for each flight, dispatched to the maps you see on our website or the alerts you receive when an aircraft is delayed. All of the communication about a flight that starts days before its departure all the way through its ultimate arrival are coordinated by the Backend systems. As a Software Engineer, you’ll be part of a highly collaborative, ambitious, and future-reaching organization. We attract engineers with a passion for aviation and data. Our team champions intellectual curiosity, openness, and industry-leading technical innovation. We invest in building excellent internal tooling and engineering support in order to create a productive and highly effective team that anticipates the future and leads by example. You’ll get to learn alongside talented senior engineers and share your own expertise. 

FlightAware Engineering consists of teams that develop and deliver an array of services powering its commercial products. These teams tackle a diverse set of technologies and solve challenging technical and product problems daily. From collecting and interpreting aviation datasets to enriching them with procedural and AI/ML solutions and delivering them through APIs, web interfaces, and reporting products, our engineers work in a dynamic environment that tests their ability to marshal over 100 resources to achieve the company’s vision.  

Regardless of role, we expect excellent interpersonal and communication skills across all hires at FlightAware. We look for candidates who will thrive here, meaning they demonstrate clear communication, embrace open feedback, trust their colleagues, and are driven to execute, deliver, and complete projects independently and efficiently.  

Learn more about FlightAware’s interview process here. 

This role is based on site in Houston, TX; relocation assistance will not be provided.  

What You Will Do:

• YOU will build new features from scratch and bring them all the way to production. 

• YOU will build and scale out FlightAware’s backend infrastructure that encompasses our streaming data feeds, databases, queueing systems, compute infrastructure, and analysis engines. 

• YOU will work together with teams across FlightAware to deliver cloud native microservices that power our website, mobile apps, data reporting, and more. 

• YOU will work with other engineers and product owners to deploy new features to production every quarter. 

• YOU will collaborate with your engineering team pair programming, reviewing pull requests, and providing feedback on technical proposals. 

• YOU will write high-quality, well-tested code to meet the needs of your customers—some of the largest airlines and airports in the world. 

What You Will Learn: 

• YOU will develop your technical acumen by working with cutting edge, in-demand technologies including Go, Rust, Next.js, Kubernetes, and more. 

• YOU will learn and apply cloud native approaches to developing and delivering software. 

• YOU will improve upon technical and interpersonal skills and develop a broader understanding of different domain areas by working on a diverse team and participating in Hackathons and technical experiments. 

• YOU will learn how to navigate and embrace change, overcome challenges, and continuously improve your processes and practices. 

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 2 years of prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field or in absence of a degree, 6 years of relevant experience 

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship now or in the future. RTX will not offer sponsorship for this position. 

• Professional experience as a Software Engineer using fullstack languages and technologies such as Go, Rust, Python, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, MySQL or similar. 

• Experience using, designing or implementing APIs with graphql or REST interfaces. 

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience with large-scale SaaS system design, data management, and microservice integration. 

• Knowledge of cloud native tools like Flux, Open Telemetry, Prometheus, Grafana, Terraform, or similar. 

• Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices and secure software design. 

• Experience with microservice implementation and deployment using CI/CD and test automation. 

• Experience with high volume data ingest and extraction from SQL databases or other datastores. 

• High performance data delivery to applications using API contracts, REST or  graphql.  

• An agile mindset with a focus on learning, rapid iteration, and an openness to new approaches. 

• Experience with cloud technologies and platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Kubernetes. 

• You are a private pilot, you are looking to pursue your private pilot license, or have a passion for aviation. 

What We Offer: 

• Some of our competitive benefits package includes: 

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 

• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees 

• Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option 

• Tuition reimbursement program 

• Student Loan Repayment Program 

• Life insurance and disability coverage 

• Optional coverages you can buy: pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection 

• Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits 

• Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning 

• Adoption Assistance 

• Autism Benefit 

• Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions 

• Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program 

• Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits 

• Bright Horizons, child and elder care services 

• Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program 

• And more! 

Learn More & Apply Now! 

Avionics:  

Avionics delivers advanced cockpit displays, vision systems, and comprehensive digital solutions for global government, commercial and business aviation customers. We provide connectivity and managed data services to ensure safety and seamless communication for passengers, crews, and militaries, from aircraft and airports to air traffic management. Join us in creating solutions that connect the world, one flight at a time. Start your application today. 

*Please ensure the role type (defined below) is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role. 

• Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.  

At Collins, the paths we pave together lead to limitless possibility. And the bonds we form – with our customers and with each other -- propel us all higher, again and again.  

Apply now and be part of the team that’s redefining aerospace, every day.