Senior Software Developer

Technology Innovation Institute; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 167,400 - 279,000; Full time

Job summary

Technology Innovation Institute in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Senior Embedded Engineer to develop and maintain secure flight controller software for autonomous UAVs. The role involves working closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure reliable, high-quality software throughout the product lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in embedded software and a strong understanding of real-time systems. A Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field is required.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in embedded software development.
• 5+ years in flight controller, autopilot, or safety-critical avionics.
• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS).

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain embedded software for UAV flight controllers.
• Integrate software with sensors and communication interfaces.
• Support software quality initiatives and perform debugging.

Skills

C/C++ programming for real-time systems

Python for tooling and test automation

Embedded security: ARM TrustZone, OP-TEE

Secure coding practices (MISRA C, SEI CERT)

Experience using static code analysis tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Advanced degrees (Master's or PhD)

Tools

Git

MATLAB

Job description

Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is a publicly funded research institute, based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is home to a diverse community of leading scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and researchers from across the globe, transforming problems and roadblocks into pioneering research and technology prototypes that help move society ahead.

Role Overview

We are looking for a senior embedded engineer to develop, integrate, and maintain secure flight controller software for autonomous UAVs – from RTOS-based autopilot development to secure boot and trusted execution on ARM SoC platforms. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver reliable, high-quality software throughout the product lifecycle.

Industry / Domain

Autonomous UAV Systems / Embedded Security

Functional Activities

• Develop and maintain embedded software using C/C++ for real-time systems.
• Integrate software with sensors, communication interfaces, and hardware peripherals.
• Perform software integration, bring-up, debugging, validation, and performance optimization.
• Participate in system integration, bench testing, simulation, and flight-testing activities.
• Contribute to software architecture, design reviews, and technical documentation.
• Use Git-based version control workflows, code reviews, branching, merging, and release management.
• Support CI/CD pipelines, build automation, software packaging, and deployment activities.
• Collaborate with hardware, systems, test, manufacturing, and DevOps teams.
• Support software quality initiatives, defect resolution, and continuous improvement activities.

Experience

• 8+ years in embedded software
• 5+ years in flight controller, autopilot, or safety-critical avionics.

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency in C/C++ programming for real-time embedded systems; Python for tooling and test automation.
• Autopilot stack expertise (e.g., PX4) and MAVLink/GCS integration (QGroundControl or similar).
• Experience with RTOS (e.g., NuttX) and embedded OS environments. scheduling, POSIX, IPC, memory protection, drivers on ARM Cortex.
• Experience in software and hardware integration activities.
• Experience in Embedded security: ARM TrustZone, OP-TEE, trusted firmware, secure boot chains, eFUSE/OTP.
• Peripheral and build know-how: CAN-FD/SPI/I2C/UART
• Secure coding (MISRA C, SEI CERT), cryptography (TLS, AES/RSA/ECC), PKI/key management.
• Hands‑on experience with Git, source code management, and collaborative development workflows.
• Understanding of CI/CD, DevOps concepts, build systems, and automated testing.
• Experience using static code analysis and software security tools (e.g., Coverity, SonarQube, Black Duck) for code quality, security, and compliance verification.
• Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills.

Education And Certification Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electronics, Electrical, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degrees (Master's or PhD) are preferred.
• Safety-critical software certifications (DO-178C, ISO 26262); MATLAB for test and validation workflows.

At TII, we help society to overcome its biggest hurdles through a rigorous approach to scientific discovery and inquiry, using state-of-the-art facilities and collaboration with leading international institutions. Our rigorous discovery and inquiry-based approach helps to forge new and disruptive breakthroughs in advanced materials, autonomous robotics, cryptography, digital security, directed energy, quantum computing and secure systems.