Senior Robotic Hardware Engineer

Responsibilities

• Lead the hardware-software bring-up process, driving initial integration and validation of flight systems from the bench to the airfield.
• Deliver integrated, flight-ready systems by bridging the gap between autopilot firmware, onboard compute, and peripheral vehicle hardware.
• Define and control system interfaces across flight controllers, payloads, and ground stations to ensure seamless communication and data integrity.
• Make critical system-level tradeoffs between embedded software performance, autonomy requirements, and physical hardware constraints.
• Design and scale automated test frameworks, including high-fidelity Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) environments with realistic sensor and vehicle simulation.
• Architect repeatable verification workflows that enable rapid iteration and reduce the cycle time from code change to validated flight behavior.
• Build custom tooling for real-time monitoring and post-flight analysis to convert complex test data into actionable system improvements.
• Serve as the technical authority for integration and verification, acting as the primary link between hardware design, GNC, and software teams.
• Support flight test campaigns as a hands-on technical lead, troubleshooting integration issues and ensuring mission success.
• Set the standards for design patterns and hardware abstraction to ensure robust, scalable, and maintainable flight software.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• At least 5 years of experience in robotics hardware integration, embedded systems, or aerospace engineering.
• Deep expertise in vehicle electronics integration, specifically bridging autopilot firmware (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot) with onboard compute (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson, Raspberry Pi) and peripheral sensors.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and Python, with experience writing hardware abstraction layers or drivers for real-time systems.
• Hands-on experience with communication protocols such as CAN, UART, I2C, SPI, and MAVLink.
• Proven track record of building and scaling simulation environments, specifically Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing for autonomous vehicles or drones.
• Demonstrated ability to lead system-level bring-up, moving complex robotics platforms from initial bench-top prototyping to successful field or flight operations.
• Excellent troubleshooting skills and a collaborative mindset, with the ability to act as the technical "glue" between GNC, software, and mechanical teams.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must hold or be eligible for a U.S. Secret security clearance.

Nice-to-Haves

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
• Hands-on experience with R/C systems, drone assembly, or flight operations.