---
title: 'Mission Software Lead at North Vector Dynamics Inc.'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mission-software-lead-north-vector-dynamics-inc-calgary-d7q83aez2bt9'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-10'
---

# Mission Software Lead at North Vector Dynamics Inc.

- **Company:** North Vector Dynamics Inc.
- **Location:** Calgary, Canada
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-09-01
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/northvectordynamics/3db920c1-dfd2-4515-b47f-60f26a9d5d87

## Job description

## About the Role

North Vector Dynamics is building the mission software that enables the CM-70 interceptor to operate as part of a networked, multi-sensor air defence system. We are seeking a Mission Software Lead to own this function from the ground up: command and control, sensor and effector integration, and the interfaces that let CM-70 and its launch platforms interoperate with third-party sensors and systems, including standards such as SAPIENT. This is a senior software role at NVD and the successful candidate will be responsible for growing the mission software team and establishing the architecture, standards, and practices that will scale with the company. The successful candidate will work closely with the Mission Systems Lead and the broader engineering organization to ensure mission software keeps pace with NVD’s growing family of launch architectures.

## What You’ll Do

- Own the mission software that enables CM-70 to detect, track, and engage threats as part of a networked, multi-sensor air defence system.
- Lead the design and development of command and control (C2) software, sensor and effector integration layers, and engagement sequencing logic.
- Build and lead the mission software team, managing software engineers working across command and control, integration, and mission planning.
- Partner closely with the Mission Systems Lead to align mission software with the electrical, mechanical, and mechatronic design of each launch architecture.
- Own software verification and validation practices, ensuring mission software meets the reliability and safety standards required for fielded defence systems.

## What You Bring

Required

- 8+ years of software engineering experience, with a proven track record leading mission-critical or safety-critical software teams, ideally in defence, aerospace, or another highly regulated hardware-software environment.
- Proven experience building and leading a software organization, including hiring, mentoring, and establishing/maintaining engineering practices
- Experience defining software architecture for systems that must interoperate with third-party sensors, effectors, and external command systems.
- Strong experience with C++ and Python, including multithreaded/multiprocess design, real-time, low-latency systems, and TCP/IP or UDP networking across distributed processes.
- Experience with web-based UI (e.g., React) for mission planning/C2 visualization, and video or telemetry streaming (e.g., RTP/RTSP) from sensor feeds.
- Familiarity with SSH and remote debugging
- Strong engineering practices: Git version control, automated testing, CI/CD, and debugging across Windows and Linux.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to align engineering, program, and leadership stakeholders around a shared software roadmap.
- Eligibility for a Government of Canada security clearance.

## Preferred

- Experience with counter-UAS, air defence, or missile guidance software systems.
- Background in command and control (C2) software, sensor fusion, or mission planning systems for defence or aerospace applications
- Demonstrated experience in computer vision, with a focus on object detection, tracking, and image-processing algorithms.
- Experience with sensor fusion, state estimation, and estimation techniques for dynamic systems.
- Experience with SAPIENT and other open sensor and effector interoperability standards
- Military background is a strong asset, we deeply value the operational context, mission focus, and technical discipline that veterans bring. Candidates with prior service in the Canadian Armed Forces or allied militaries, particularly in technical or avionics roles, are highly encouraged to apply.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.

## Why North Vector Dynamics

- Real ownership from day one, the systems and processes you build will be foundational to how this company operates for years to come.
- We’re working on technology that matters at a national and global level, and every person on the team feels that weight and that purpose.
- A tight-knit, high-calibre team that moves fast, holds each other to a high
- standard, and doesn’t waste time on bureaucracy for its own sake.
- Competitive compensation and meaningful upside from joining an early-stage company at the forefront of the defence technology sector.
- On-site in Calgary, AB, a growing hub for tech and defence, with a culture built around resilience and getting things done.

## About North Vector Dynamics Inc.

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: North Vector Dynamics is a Canadian defense and autonomy technology company building precision autonomous systems and counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) weapons for the future battlefield.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Venture-backed)
- **Headquarters**: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- **Founded**: 2022 (originally as Think Solutions Engineering; rebranded to North Vector Dynamics in 2025)
- **Founders**: Paul Ziadé (Co-founder & CEO), Dr. Craig Johansen (Co-founder & Chief Science Officer), and a third co-founder (aerospace engineers specializing in hypersonics, rocket propulsion, and high-speed aerodynamics)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Defense technology, aerospace, counter-UAS systems, hypersonics, autonomous systems
- **Target customers**: Canadian Department of National Defence (DND), allied military forces, NATO partners
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "On the battlefield, survival isn’t a feature – it’s the requirement." The company is building Canada's first full-spectrum air and missile defence company, focused on sovereign capability for Canada and its allies.

## Products & Services
- **CM-70**: A low-cost, highly-maneuverable, attritable mass, precision-guided missile designed to neutralize Group I-III drone threats. It measures 0.72m in length, weighs ~2 kg, has a range of 3.5 km, and a speed of over 1,000 km/h. Features semi-active laser homing (SALH) guidance supported by AI and a blast fragmentation warhead.
- **SHIELD**: An expeditionary counter-UAS system that uses the Arctos sensor and launch node. It can loiter for hours and deploy air-launched CUAS effects.
- **CI-60**: A next-generation expendable UAV available in two configurations: a threat simulation system (subscale aerial target for air defense training) and a CUAS vehicle designed to neutralize hostile drones with speed and agility.
- **SPIKE**: A subscale aerial target system for use by land, naval, and air forces, providing realistic, threat-representative targets for air defense qualification and live-fire training.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Backed by the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) and venture capital firms
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Canadian Department of National Defence (DND), venture capital firms (specific names not publicly disclosed)
- **Growth Signals**: Rebranded from Think Solutions Engineering in 2025 to go all-in on air-defense development; shifting focus to the CM-70 C-UAS missile to meet growing demand; building Canada's first full-spectrum air and missile defence company; backed by DND for hypersonic and advanced interception work

## Competitive Advantages
- **Sovereign capability**: Building a Canadian-controlled technical base for counter-UAS and hypersonic interception, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains
- **Deep technical expertise**: Founders and team trained at top institutions (Waterloo, Oxford, Calgary) and organizations (NASA, Atomic Energy of Canada, national aerospace labs)
- **First-of-its-kind systems**: SHIELD is described as a first-of-its-kind expeditionary counter-UAS system
- **Attritable mass approach**: The CM-70 is a low-cost, precision-guided missile designed to invert the battlefield economics of drone warfare
- **Full-spectrum ambition**: Building toward hypersonic interception capability, positioning as Canada's first full-spectrum air and missile defence company

## Strategic Focus
- **Near-term**: Low-cost, precision-guided missile system (CM-70) for intercepting Group I-III drones and providing short-range force protection
- **Long-term**: Hypersonic interception capability for North American air defence and allied partners
- **Sovereign capability**: Building a Canadian-controlled technical base for defense technologies to reduce reliance on fragile supply chains
- **Product expansion**: Shifting focus to the CM-70 C-UAS missile to meet growing demand for counter-UAS interceptors

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven work**: Directly contributing to national defense and sovereignty for Canada and its allies
- **Deep tech focus**: Work on cutting-edge technologies including hypersonics, autonomous drone guidance, AI-driven flow control, and rocket propulsion
- **Elite team**: Colleagues include engineers and applied scientists from institutions like Waterloo, Oxford, and Calgary, with experience at NASA, Atomic Energy of Canada, and national aerospace research labs
- **Growth stage**: Recently rebranded and "all in" on air-defense development — a high-growth, high-impact environment
- **Remote-friendly**: Listed as having remote options across 27 locations, with an in-office presence in Calgary
- **Small, agile team**: Approximately 9-12 total employees, offering significant ownership and impact
- **Government backing**: Supported by Canada's Department of National Defence, providing stability and strategic importance

## Sources
1. [northvectordynamics.com](https://www.northvectordynamics.com/)
2. [northvectordynamics.com/about-us](https://www.northvectordynamics.com/about-us)
3. [northvectordynamics.com/advanced-systems](https://www.northvectordynamics.com/advanced-systems)
4. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/north-vector-dynamics)
5. [janes.com](https://www.janes.com/defence-intelligence-insights/defence-news/industry/north-vector-dynamics-aims-to-bring-missile-production-to-canada)

## Other roles at North Vector Dynamics Inc.

- [Head of Manufacturing](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-manufacturing-north-vector-dynamics-inc-calgary-6th1ta2dgbsh) — Calgary, Canada
- [Embedded Linux Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/embedded-linux-engineer-north-vector-dynamics-inc-calgary-78vxnpyb8fh3) — Calgary, Canada
- [Project Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/project-manager-north-vector-dynamics-inc-calgary-eqpdzcabrfvj) — Calgary, Canada
- [Join our Team](https://feeny.ai/job/join-our-team-north-vector-dynamics-inc-calgary-sjphgbkg4ryx) — Calgary, Canada
- [Postdoc Hypersonics](https://feeny.ai/job/postdoc-hypersonics-north-vector-dynamics-inc-calgary-5cvygr5w3qwm) — Calgary, Canada
- [European Sales and Partnerships](https://feeny.ai/job/european-sales-and-partnerships-north-vector-dynamics-inc-europe-5evhgfykan8n) — Europe