GNC / Autopilot Engineering Manager

Stark Defence; Berlin; Hybrid; EUR 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Stark Defence in Berlin leads the development of autonomous defence platforms and AI-driven software for demanding environments. You will own the flight control and navigation stack, building the foundation that every other system depends on while growing a top-tier engineering team.

You will collaborate with hardware, perception, and systems teams to ensure end-to-end navigation performance, drive strategic roadmaps, and push for robust real-time operation in challenging conditions.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of software (robotics) engineering in the GNC domain.
• 3+ years in a leadership role with people management.
• Proven track record deploying robotics software into production.
• Strong knowledge of the GNC domain.
• Fluent English; German is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a fast-expanding team of engineers working on flight control, guidance, and state estimation.
• Facilitate and execute the technical direction for the STARK autopilot stack: control theory (PID/LQR/MPC), sensor fusion, state estimation (EKF/UKF), and real-time performance.
• Partner with hardware, perception, and systems engineering teams to ensure navigation performance end-to-end.
• Own technical roadmap planning for your domain and present it to your Director and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Apply software engineering best practices (C4 architecture, clean code, design patterns) to the team.
• Moderate the peer review process and ensure knowledge sharing across seniorities.
• Drive hiring, mentoring, and career development for your team.
• Report on technical risk, schedule, and capacity to leadership.
• Drive test and validation strategy from simulation/HIL to live trials.

Skills

GNC domain expertise

Leadership experience

Robotics software deployment

Fluent English

German language

Production deployment

Tools

PX4

ArduPilot

Job description

At Stark, we forge the future of European and national security through cutting-edge, AI-driven technology and unmatched engineering precision. As a premier defence technology company, our mission is clear: to equip NATO Allies and their partners with next-generation autonomous defence platforms and advanced AI-driven software built to perform in the world’s most demanding environments.

We believe that true security stems from relentless innovation. By combining elite engineering talent with agile technology and an AI-native operational culture, Stark turns complex defence challenges into field-tested, multi-domain solutions.

Why Join Us?

• The software and systems you work on directly protect personnel and defend European and national sovereignty.
• You will work alongside industry-leading minds on autonomous systems, advanced propulsion, and secure cyber platforms.
• We foster a fast-paced, collaborative environment where bold ideas are supported by serious R&D backing.

Your Mission

You will own the flight control and navigation stack that keeps our autonomous platforms stable, predictable, and precise — from first power-on to final approach (GNC = Guidance, Navigation, Control) . This isn't a maintenance role: you're building the control and state-estimation foundation that every other system on the platform depends on, while growing a team of engineers who can own that responsibility with you. Success looks like a navigation and control stack that performs reliably under the demanding, contested conditions our systems are built for.

Responsibilities

Lead and grow a fast-expanding team of engineers working on flight control, guidance, and state estimation

Facilitate and execute the technical direction for the STARK autopilot stack: control theory (PID/LQR/MPC), sensor fusion architecture, state estimation (EKF/UKF), and real-time performance

Partner with hardware, perception, and systems engineering teams to ensure navigation performance holds end-to-end, not just in isolation

Own technical roadmap planning for your domain and represent it to your Director and cross-functional stakeholders

Bring software engineering best practices to the team such as the C4 architecture model, clean code principles and software design patterns

Moderate the peer review process with the team and ensure knowledge sharing and across different seniorities

Drive hiring, mentoring, and career development for your team as well as ways of working together

Report on technical risk, schedule, and capacity to leadership

Drive test and validation strategy, from simulation and HIL testing through live trials

Required Skills

7+ years of software (robotics) engineering experience in the domain of GNC (guidance, navigation, and control)

3+ years in a leadership role (Team Lead, Head of, Engineering Manager, or equivalent) with direct people management experience

Provent track record of deploying robotics software application into production environment

Strong knowledge about the GNC domain

Fluent English; German is a plus

Nice-To-Have

Proven track record taking autonomous systems with GNSS-denied navigation system from design to production fielded, flight-tested products

Experience with PX4, ArduPilot, or comparable open-source autopilot stacks

Background in aerospace, robotics, or MINT programs

Exposure to systems operating in contested or degraded environments

Prior experience scaling a technical team in a startup or fast-growing engineering org

Familiarity with MIL-STD or STANAG-aligned development practices

Security Clearance:

Due to the nature of our work in the defence sector, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance required for this position. Details will be provided during the recruitment process.

At Stark Defence, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing team. We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities.

If you are excited about this role, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the listed qualifications—ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points. We value unique perspectives, adaptability, and a drive to solve high-stakes challenges.