UAV Operations Engineer / Pilot – Data Operations (all genders)

STARK; München; Vor Ort; EUR 60.000 - 90.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

STARK in Munich or Berlin seeks a hands-on field data-collection engineer to plan, configure, and execute data-collection flights for our autonomous systems. You will operate PX4/ArduPilot stacks, tune parameters, and ensure clean, usable datasets from each mission.

You will work closely with hardware and robotics engineers on payload integration, maintain detailed flight logs, and travel regularly for European field campaigns while adhering to EU drone regulations and safety procedures.

Qualifikationen

• EU A2/A3 drone certificate or ability to obtain quickly.
• Solid PX4 and/or ArduPilot knowledge: config, tuning, logs.
• Experience building and maintaining drones; soldering and wiring.
• Experience with sensor payloads and ground control in field.
• Willingness to travel for field campaigns and work outdoors; English OK.

Aufgaben

• Plan and execute field data-collection campaigns across Europe: flight planning, site assessment, pre-flight checks, piloting, logging, and post-flight data offload
• Configure, tune, and troubleshoot PX4/ArduPilot flight stacks for stable, repeatable data-collection flights
• Analyze flight logs to diagnose issues and continuously improve platform reliability
• Operate sensor payloads (cameras, gimbals, lidar, GNSS/IMU) during missions and verify recordings on-site
• Keep the fleet mission-ready: maintenance, repairs, spare parts, battery management, and configuration control
• Work with our hardware and robotics engineers on payload integration - you define what the platform needs to fly well
• Maintain flight logs and campaign documentation so every flight produces usable, traceable data
• Ensure operations comply with aviation regulations (EU drone rules) and internal safety procedures

Kenntnisse

Drone piloting

PX4

ArduPilot

Flight planning

Sensor payloads

Flight testing

Ausbildung

EU A2/A3 certificate

Tools

MAVLink

Ground Control Station

Jobbeschreibung

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments.

We're focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems - not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe - today.

About the team:

The Data Operations team owns the entire data lifecycle behind STARK's AI stack: collection, acquisition, generation, curation, and management. We run our own data-collection campaigns across Europe, evaluate new sensors and platforms, and build the internal data platform that turns raw recordings into ready-to-use datasets. Everything we produce feeds directly into the perception and autonomy systems deployed on STARK's platforms - a real data advantage is built, not bought. The team is scaling up right now: real scope, direct impact, no legacy.

This position will be located in Munich or in Berlin.

Your mission:

You own our data-collection flights. When the perception team needs a specific dataset - a new camera at a new angle, a lidar over specific terrain, a thermal sensor at dusk - you plan the campaign, configure and tune the platform, fly the mission, and bring clean data home. Our hardware engineer builds the rigs and mounts, our robotics engineer makes the sensors record - you make it all fly, reliably, again and again. This is a role for someone with real stick time and real PX4/ArduPilot depth: not a desk job with occasional field trips, but the other way around.

Responsibilities:

• Plan and execute field data-collection campaigns across Europe: flight planning, site assessment, pre-flight checks, piloting, logging, and post-flight data offload
• Configure, tune, and troubleshoot PX4/ArduPilot flight stacks for stable, repeatable data-collection flights
• Analyze flight logs to diagnose issues and continuously improve platform reliability
• Operate sensor payloads (cameras, gimbals, lidar, GNSS/IMU) during missions and verify recordings on-site
• Keep the fleet mission-ready: maintenance, repairs, spare parts, battery management, and configuration control
• Work with our hardware and robotics engineers on payload integration - you define what the platform needs to fly well
• Maintain flight logs and campaign documentation so every flight produces usable, traceable data
• Ensure operations comply with aviation regulations (EU drone rules) and internal safety procedures

Qualifications:

• Confident, experienced drone pilot with substantial real-world flight hours (multirotor; fixed-wing a plus), holding an EU A2/A3 certificate or willing to obtain quickly
• Solid practical knowledge of PX4 and/or ArduPilot: configuration, parameter tuning, log analysis, MAVLink basics
• Hands-on experience assembling, repairing, and maintaining drones - comfortable with soldering, wiring, and multimeter debugging
• Experience operating sensor payloads and ground control stations in the field
• Practical, structured, and safety-conscious - you find the loose cable before it becomes a crash
• Willingness to travel regularly for field campaigns and work outdoors in various conditions
• Good communication skills in English (German is a plus)

Nice to have:

• Scripting skills (Python, Bash) for flight log processing and data offload automation
• CAD basics (Fusion 360, SolidWorks) and 3D-printing experience
• Experience with ROS/ROS2 recording setups or companion computers (Jetson, Raspberry Pi)
• Background in FPV, drone racing, RC modeling, competition teams, or maker culture
• Experience with camera settings and image quality trade-offs for data collection

A note on our process: a portfolio says more than a CV here. Show us your builds and your flights - photos, flight logs, competition entries. If you don't hit every bullet point but you have been flying and fixing drones for years, we still want to hear from you.

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.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.