Autopilot Engineer

Reporting directly to the Head of the Control team, as an Autopilot Engineer you will help develop/customize autopilot firmware for autonomous system operations., * Design, develop, and customize autopilot firmware to enable reliable, safe, and robust autonomous operations across multiple mission profiles and environments.

• Implement and maintain low-level drivers for onboard sensors and actuators (e.g., IMU, payload interfaces), ensuring accurate data acquisition and real-time performance.
• Integrate autopilot functionality with AI-based autonomy, perception, and mission-planning systems, enabling adaptive behaviors.
• Develop and maintain interfaces and communication layers (e.g., MAVLink) between the autopilot, flight controller, ground control systems, and higher-level autonomy stacks.
• Conduct system-level testing, debugging, and validation of autopilot firmware, including fault analysis and performance optimization on real hardware.
• Integrate and validate autopilot software in simulation environments, including Software-in-the-Loop (SITL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL), to support rapid iteration and safe deployment.
• Contribute to architecture and design decisions related to flight control, autonomy, safety mechanisms, and redundancy.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (AI, systems engineering, hardware, testing, and operations) to ensure seamless system integration and mission readiness.
• Identify technical risks, propose mitigation strategies, and help resolve complex engineering challenges throughout the development lifecycle.
• Support continuous improvement of development processes, coding standards, documentation, and testing methodologies.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• Professional experience in autopilot, flight control, or embedded software development for autonomous systems, UAVs, or comparable safety-critical platforms.
• Deep expertise in MAVLink protocol, including custom message development and system integration.
• Strong hands-on experience with PX4 firmware architecture, customization, and deployment.
• Advanced proficiency in C++ for embedded and real-time systems, and Python for tooling, scripting, and simulation workflows.
• Excellent understanding of microcontrollers and real-time operating systems (RTOS), including timing constraints, scheduling, and resource management.
• Solid knowledge of flight dynamics, control theory, avionics, and state estimation as applied to autonomous aerial systems.
• Proven ability to debug complex, multi-layered systems involving hardware, firmware, and software interactions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, high-responsibility environment.
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset; ability to mentor junior engineers and contribute positively to team culture., * Drone Pilot License or hands-on operational experience with UAVs.
• Experience with safety-critical or defense-grade systems, including redundancy, fail-safe mechanisms, and certification-oriented development.
• Familiarity with GNSS-denied navigation, sensor fusion, or contested-environment operations.
• Experience working with hardware bring-up, custom flight controllers, or new sensor platforms .

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments. We're focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems - not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe - today.