Embedded Systems Engineer
Company Description
Our systems listen, so others can be forearmed.
We are hiring Embedded Systems Engineers as we embark on the next critical phase of our Acoustic Detection product roadmap.
Arcani takes its name from the Arcani of Roman Britain - elite scouts known for their agility, intel and mobility. Today, we're building the modern equivalent - sensor scouts designed to detect and protect, giving defenders the edge.
We're hiring across multiple roles. If you want to join a fast-moving startup and help shape the future of threat detection, we'd love to hear from you.
Embedded Systems Engineer – Defence AI & Edge Computing
Company: Arcani Systems Ltd
Type: Full-time
Security: Must be eligible to work with defence customers and sensitive projects
About Arcani
Arcani is building next-generation passive sensing systems for modern defence environments. Our flagship platform, HARK (Hostile Acoustic Recognition Kit), is a low-cost, omnidirectional acoustic drone detection system capable of detecting and classifying drones in contested environments, including RF-silent and autonomous threats.
Our systems integrate with ATAK, Lattice, and emerging NATO interoperability standards such as SAPIENT. Arcani is actively working with defence users, NATO programmes, and operational trials across Europe.
We are looking for an Embedded Systems Engineer to help develop and deploy the edge computing and embedded software infrastructure powering our sensing platforms.
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Role Overview
You will develop the embedded software and edge compute stack that powers Arcani’s field-deployed sensing systems.
This role sits at the intersection of embedded Linux, real-time sensor processing, AI deployment, networking, and tactical systems integration. You will work closely with hardware, ML, acoustics, and integration teams to build reliable, deployable systems that operate in demanding real-world environments.
We are looking for someone highly practical — comfortable debugging hardware in the field, optimising software on constrained edge devices, and rapidly iterating systems during operational testing.
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Responsibilities
Embedded Software Development
* Develop and maintain embedded Linux systems for Arcani platforms
* Build software for:
* Sensor acquisition
* Real-time processing pipelines
* Edge AI inference
* Device management
* Telemetry and networking
* Work with embedded compute platforms including:
* NVIDIA Jetson
* ARM-based Linux systems
* Raspberry Pi-class devices
* Develop low-latency and reliable software for field deployment
Edge AI & Sensor Integration
* Integrate AI/ML inference pipelines onto edge devices
* Optimise performance for real-time acoustic processing
* Interface with:
* Microphone arrays
* GNSS systems
* IMUs
* Radios and network devices
* Support multi-sensor fusion and distributed sensing systems
Networking & Tactical Integration
* Develop integrations for:
* ATAK / CoT
* MQTT
* Tactical mesh networks
* SAPIENT-compatible systems
* Support deployment across disconnected and low-bandwidth environments
* Implement robust communication and data handling pipelines
System Deployment & Debugging
* Support operational testing and field deployments
* Diagnose embedded hardware/software integration issues
* Debug performance bottlenecks, networking issues, and system stability problems
* Build reliable startup, monitoring, and recovery systems for unattended deployments
Infrastructure & Tooling
* Build deployment and update systems
* Develop logging, telemetry, and diagnostic tooling
* Support CI/CD workflows for embedded systems
* Assist with security hardening and system reliability
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Required Skills
Essential
* Strong experience with embedded Linux systems
* Strong proficiency in:
* Python
* C/C++
* Bash/Linux tooling
* Experience working with embedded compute platforms
* Experience with:
* Real-time data processing
* Multithreaded applications
* Networking and sockets
* Hardware interfaces
* Strong Linux debugging and troubleshooting skills
* Experience deploying software onto edge devices
* Comfortable working with hardware directly
Desirable
* NVIDIA Jetson development experience
* Experience with:
* CUDA
* TensorRT
* AI inference optimisation
* Audio processing
* Sensor fusion
* MQTT
* CoT/ATAK integrations
* Familiarity with:
* Docker
* ROS/ROS2
* GPU acceleration
* Tactical radio systems
* GNSS/RTK systems
* Experience with disconnected/offline systems
* Cybersecurity or hardening experience
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What We’re Looking For
* Highly practical engineer
* Strong debugging mindset
* Comfortable working in fast-moving startup conditions
* Builder mentality
* Comfortable operating with incomplete information
* Able to rapidly prototype and iterate
* Excited by defence technology and operational deployment
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Nice-to-Have Experience
* Defence or aerospace systems
* Autonomous systems or robotics
* Drone technologies
* Acoustic sensing systems
* Edge AI deployment
* Tactical communications
* Distributed sensing systems
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What You’ll Work On
* Real-time acoustic drone detection systems
* AI-powered edge sensing platforms
* Tactical defence integrations
* Multi-sensor field systems
* NATO interoperability integrations
* Autonomous sensing infrastructure
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Compensation
* Competitive salary
* Equity/options available
* Opportunity to work on cutting-edge defence technology with real-world operational impact
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