# Robotic Software Engineer (Drone Stack)
**Company:** [Applied Intuition](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/applied-intuition)
**Location:** Fort Walton Beach, FL, Sunnyvale, CA, San Diego, CA, Washington, DC, Ann Arbor, MI
**Salary:** $125K-$165K
**Experience:** 3+ years
**Skills:** C++, Pixhawk, Ardupilot, Px4, Docker, Linux, Ubuntu, Rhel, Git, GitLab, Visual Studio Code, Uart, Spi, I2C, Ethernet
**Posted:** 2026-04-21
> Designs and integrates autonomy software with hardware for UAVs and drones, deploying in SIL/HIL/live tests. Requires 3+ years robotics experience, C++, Pixhawk autopilots, Linux/Docker, and US citizenship for defense work.
## Job Description
## Responsibilities
- Adapt and develop modular and agile autonomy capabilities across diverse defense problems
- Integrate and deploy autonomy solutions onto embedded Linux and other hardware platforms, including interfacing with sensors and collecting data
- Troubleshoot complex integration and software issues to ensure high reliability and performance
- Integrate autonomy software into hardware in collaboration with autonomy engineers that supports full integration with aircraft autopilots, datalinks, sensors, PNT/GPS/INS, ground control stations, etc.
- Support live flight test of autonomy software on group 1-5 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
- Collaborate with 3rd party UAS vehicle vendors on the integration of Applied autonomy software onto OEM UAS hardware
- Conduct system-level setup, testing, and validation, including software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop evaluations
- Collaborate with autonomy engineers to implement service-oriented-architecture software and inter-process messaging systems for autonomous UASs
- Collaborate with DoD warfighter domain experts and 3rd party UAS vehicle vendors to develop and integrate autonomy software onto OEM hardware

## Requirements
- BS or MS in Robotics, Computer Science or related engineering field
- 3+ years of hands-on experience working with robotic systems (hardware, software, and integration)
- Experience with software programming languages: **C++** preferred
- Experience integrating autonomy/robotics products with **Pixhawk** autopilots (**ArduPilot** and/or **PX4**)
- Experience integrating with communication busses & protocols: **UART/RS232/RS422/RS485**, **SPI/QSPI**, **I2C**, **Ethernet**
- Experience developing in **Docker**, containerized deployment environments, and using Linux-based operating systems (e.g., **RHEL**, **Ubuntu**)
- Experience using **git**, **Visual Studio Code**, **GitLab**
- Familiarity with real-time, edge computing, and safety-critical systems operating in software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), test & operational environments
- Excellent communication skills and customer-oriented project delivery mindset
- Willingness to travel frequently for on-site integration and demonstrations (estimated 10–20%)
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

## Nice to Have
- Experience in modern **C++** (2011, 2017, or 2020 standards), **Bash**, and **CMake**
- **FAA Part 107** Remote Pilot Certificate
- Experience with **Agile** development practices and **CI/CD** pipelines
- Prior work with COTS hardware integration such as **Nvidia Jetson** and **Raspberry Pi**
- Active U.S. **SECRET** clearance preferred

## Compensation
**Base salary range: $125,000 to $165,000 USD annually.**
**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/robotic-software-engineer-drone-stack-at-applied-intuition-0dc19991-b645-49bf-be1a-fb707904b16d
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/robotic-software-engineer-drone-stack-at-applied-intuition-0dc19991-b645-49bf-be1a-fb707904b16d