Autonomy Engineer - Fixed Wing Planning & Controls
Develops and implements motion planning and control systems for Skydio's F10 tailsitter drone platform, including simulation, flight testing, and hardware-informed design. Requires C++/Python proficiency, real hardware control experience, aircraft dynamics knowledge, and control theory expertise.
About the job
Responsibilities
- Architect, implement, simulate, and flight test new motion planning strategies
- Develop, tune, and analyze new flight controllers
- Refine and understand the aerodynamic and dynamic model of a tailsitter aircraft using simulated and flight test data
- Inform aspects of hardware design such as sensor requirements and aerodynamic control authority through simulation and analysis
- Get out of your comfort zone and help across the stack where needed
Requirements
- Strong proficiency in C++ and Python in real-time contexts
- Experience shipping software that controls real hardware, e.g. aircraft, drones, robots, etc.
- Knowledge of aircraft and rotorcraft dynamics
- Experience with non-linear optimization
- Modern and classical control theory and practice
- Strong software engineering fundamentals and a commitment to writing clean, well-designed, maintainable, readable code
- Experience collaborating in a larger code base
Compensation
- Annual base salary range: $170,000 - $240,000
- Equity in the form of stock options
- Comprehensive benefits: health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, holiday pay, 401K
Skills
C++, Python, Non-Linear Optimization, Control Theory, Motion Planning, Flight Controllers, Aircraft Dynamics, Simulation, Real-Time Software, Software Engineering
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