Lead UAV Engineer

About this Position

Our client is seeking a Lead UAV Engineer to own and drive the design, development and integration of autonomous aerial systems, taking platforms from concept and prototyping through to flight testing and deployment. This is a hands-on technical leadership role spanning embedded hardware, firmware and robotics software, with a strong emphasis on safety-relevant engineering, reliable real-world operation, and leading delivery across the full system lifecycle.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end UAV system development: architecture, build, integration, flight testing, iteration and deployment readiness.

• Own platform-level technical decision-making and trade-offs across power, compute, sensing and communications.

• Lead development of flight-critical subsystems, ensuring safety, reliability and robust operational performance.

• Build embedded solutions on MCUs, SBCs and Pixhawk/Cube-class autopilots, setting standards for implementation and verification.

• Lead integration and validation of navigation and perception sensors (IMU, GNSS/INS, LiDAR/cameras, ADS-B and radios).

• Develop, maintain and govern flight/robotics software stacks (ArduPilot/PX4/ROS2), including drivers as needed.

• Lead system-level debugging across hardware, firmware and software; perform root-cause analysis from flight/field issues and drive corrective actions through to closure.

• Produce and review clear interfaces, documentation and test procedures to support manufacturing, maintainability and scalability.

• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers, setting best practices for code quality, testing, version control and release discipline.

Experience Required:

• Hands-on experience in UAVs, robotics, autonomous systems or avionics engineering, with demonstrable ownership of delivered systems.

• Strong embedded systems knowledge (UART/SPI/I C/CAN, real-time constraints, power and reliability considerations), with the ability to lead design and review.

• Practical experience with ArduPilot and/or PX4 on Pixhawk/Cube Pilot-class hardware.

• Working experience with ROS/ROS2 and Linux-based development; Git version control.

• Proven sensor integration and validation (IMU, GNSS/INS, LiDAR and/or cameras; plus ADS-B/telemetry preferred).

• Demonstrable ability to take a prototype to flight/field-ready, including robust troubleshooting in real environments and driving engineering rigour under time pressure.

• Confident technical documentation skills; exposure to rapid prototyping (3D printing and basic electronics/PCB workflows) beneficial.