Software Engineer (Drone Stack)

Applied Intuition
Washington
Workplace: OnsiteFull timeUSD 125,000 - 185,000 annuallyFunction: Software EngineeringExperience: 3+ yearsEducation: mastersSkills: ["Communication","Problem-solving","Customer-first"]

Architect and field autonomy and vehicle intelligence for real drone platforms, bridging hardware and software for defense missions. Build modular autonomy capabilities deployed on embedded Linux and compute platforms, integrate with onboard sensors and aircraft components, and develop service-oriented software for autonomous UAS. Own system bring-up, SIL/HIL test and validation, and troubleshooting, partnering with autonomy, DoD domain experts, and UAS vendors to support live field testing and customer demos.

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FursaFursa
Applied Intuition
Applied Intuition
2 days ago

Software Engineer (Drone Stack)

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Last checked: 10 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Architect and field autonomy and vehicle intelligence for real drone platforms, bridging hardware and software for defense missions. Build modular autonomy capabilities deployed on embedded Linux and compute platforms, integrate with onboard sensors and aircraft components, and develop service-oriented software for autonomous UAS. Own system bring-up, SIL/HIL test and validation, and troubleshooting, partnering with autonomy, DoD domain experts, and UAS vendors to support live field testing and customer demos.
Location: Washington
Workplace: Onsite
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Software Engineering
Seniority: Mid level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Build and tailor modular autonomy capabilities for defense missions, deploying on embedded Linux and interfacing with onboard sensors while capturing data.
  • •Integrate autonomy software with vehicle hardware and components including aircraft autopilots, datalinks, sensor payloads, PNT/GPS/INS, and ground control stations; build service-oriented architecture software and inter-process messaging frameworks for autonomous UAS.
  • •Perform system bring-up, test, and validation across SIL and HIL evaluations, and participate in live flight testing across Group 1–5 UAVs.
  • •Diagnose and resolve challenging software and integration issues to keep systems performant and dependable.
  • •Collaborate with DoD warfighter domain experts and third-party UAS vendors to bring applied autonomy software onto OEM aircraft hardware and support customer-facing demos.
Travel: Medium travel

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 125,000 - 185,000 annually
Equity and Bonus:Equity
Perks:Health InsuranceDentalVisionLife InsuranceDisability Insurance401kLearning BudgetWellness StipendPaid Leave

Key Requirements

  • •Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline, plus at least 3 years of hands-on robotics experience across hardware, software, and systems integration.
  • •Proficiency in a modern programming language with modern C++ required, including experience with Docker, containerized deployments, and Linux distributions such as Ubuntu or RHEL.
  • •Hands-on integration of robotics/autonomy products with Pixhawk-family autopilots (ArduPilot and/or PX4).
  • •Working knowledge of communication buses and protocols including UART/RS232/RS422/RS485, SPI/QSPI, I2C, and Ethernet.
  • •Exposure to real-time, edge, and safety-critical computing in SIL, HIL, test, and operational settings, plus strong communication and customer-first project delivery.
Experience:3+ years
Education:Master's in Robotics, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline
Skills:CommunicationProblem-solvingCustomer-first
Certifications:FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
Tech Stack:C++Modern C++DockerLinuxUbuntuRHELGitGitLabVisual Studio CodePixhawkArduPilotPX4UARTRS232RS422RS485SPIQSPII2CEthernet

Eligibility

Security Clearance:Secret

Company Brief

Applied Intuition
Builds software tools for autonomous vehicle development, including simulation, validation, and data infrastructure for automakers and robotics teams. Also supports defense applications with autonomy-focused testing and deployment platforms.
Industry: Developer Tools
Company Size: Enterprise (1,001+ employees)
Growth: Scaleup
Headquarters: Mountain View, United States
Founded: 2017
WebsiteLinkedIn