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What You’ll Be Doing

As a technical lead within our autonomy team, you’ll drive the selection, integration, and prototyping of uncrewed aerial systems, shaping our next-generation autonomous drone architecture.

Key responsibilities:

• Own platform-level software architecture for UxV autonomy, including compute, sensors, and communication.
• Lead prototyping efforts using off-the-shelf and custom drone platforms to evaluate performance, cost, and integration tradeoffs.
• Evaluate and select onboard compute platforms (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson, ARM/x86) and open-source frameworks (e.g., ROS2, PX4, MAVSDK).
• Design and implement core middleware in C++ to interface autonomy stacks with real-time hardware and perception systems.
• Build and maintain simulation and HIL/SIL environments to validate autonomous behaviors pre-flight.
• Collaborate with sensing, autonomy, and systems teams to deliver testable, modular, field-deployable solutions.
• Support live flight testing, debugging, and system bring-up.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a senior, hands-on engineer with deep systems thinking and the ability to drive early-stage development from paper to prototype.

You’ll need:

• A STEM degree (preferably in Robotics, Aerospace, EE, CS, or similar)
• 8+ years experience in robotics or autonomy or aerospace or similar/relevant field
• Expert C++ (14/17), with Python for scripting and glue code
• Proficiency with Linux-based embedded platforms, drivers, and networking
• Proven experience integrating sensors, compute, and control systems
• UAV-specific knowledge: PX4, MAVLink, mission planning, BVLOS operations
• Simulation tools: Gazebo, AirSim, Ignition
• CI/CD and containerization: Git, Docker, ROS2 build systems
• Experience in safety-critical or defence-grade autonomy

What You’ll Get

• A lead role in shaping the technical direction of our drone platforms
• A close-knit team with deep domain experience in defence, autonomy, and AI
• Opportunity for rapid growth in a high-impact, early-stage startup

UK-based | Hybrid (Redhill HQ) | Security Clearance (SC) required or eligibility to obtain

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Contract

Job function

• Industries

  Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing and Defense and Space Manufacturing

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