UAV Software and Controls Engineer

SE3Labs; München; On-site; EUR 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Flat hierarchy

31 Paid Days Off

Gym membership

Team retreats

Mentorship

Job summary

SE3 Labs is building Spatial AI-enabled UAVs and seeking a Drone Software and Controls Engineer to lead the autonomy stack from firmware to GCS plugins. You will own the full-stack avionics development, from component selection to system integration and fleet orchestration.

You will join a hands-on team bridging software and hardware, delivering robust, flight-ready platforms with a focus on performance and reliability. Fluency in English is required; German is a strong plus.

Qualifications

• B.Sc. or higher in Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.
• 3+ years hands-on avionics development experience including component selection, firmware, and full system integration.
• Proficiency with lab equipment (multimeters, scopes, spectrum analyzers, near-field probes) to diagnose and debug.
• Deep understanding of autonomy principles and low-level UAV fleet issues.
• Experience with PX4 and ArduPilot; ability to navigate codebases to get what you need.
• Familiarity with QGC and how to customize it.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop and environmental testing; understand how designs fail in the wild.
• Fluent English; German is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and develop schematics for software–hardware integration across all UAV systems.
• Prototype, test hardware and tools, using simulation and flight tests for fast iteration.
• Analyze full information flow via simulation and real-world testing across UAVs and GCS.
• Document requirements, tradeoffs, test results, tuning procedures and rationale.
• Support hardware-in-the-loop and environmental validation workflows for rugged implementations.

Skills

Autonomy principles

PX4

ArduPilot

QGC

GCS customization

Lab equipment troubleshooting

English fluency

Education

B.Sc. or higher in Aerospace Engineering

Job description

Join SE3 Labs as UAV Software and Controls Engineer

Lead the autonomy stack of our systems. Starting from custom firmware all the way to GCS plugins.

About SE3

SE3 Labs is building Spatial AI by combining 3D computer vision with large language models (LLMs). We believe the ability to reason about and act within physical space is foundational to unlocking the next generation of automation, from construction to smart infrastructure, and ultimately, defence.

Now, we’re building the physical platform to bring Spatial AI to life. That means high-performance, real-world robotic systems (starting with UAVs), and we’re looking for a skilled, hands‑on engineer who’s ready to bring these machines into the real world.

About the Role

As Drone Software and Controls Engineer, you will be working on the full‑stack avionics development of our UAV fleet. From selecting the components to tuning and configuring the UAV, all the way to GCS development and autonomy orchestration. You will be the brain behind the fleet.

You will be in the middle of the software and hardware team, mastering the integration of the two fields and bringing the final product to life.

What You’ll Work On

• Architecture & Plan: Define and develop schematics for communication and integration of the software stack across all our systems. How does UAV A get a position from UGV B? How does Payload 1 inform UAV C that it needs to land?

• Prototype & Iterate: Build, rework, and test hardware with speed and precision, both in simulation and in flight. Develop better simulations and tools for faster iteration.

• Optimize & Troubleshoot: Analyse the full flow of information via simulation and real‑world testing, including UAV to UAV, UAV to GCS or UAV to payload.

• Document with Purpose: Keep clear records of requirements, tradeoffs, test results, tuning procedures, and implementation rationale

• Validate in the Loop: Support hardware‑in‑the‑loop and environmental validation workflows to ensure rugged, reliable implementations.

Your Profile

• You hold a B.Sc. or higher in Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline

• You bring 3+ years of hands‑on experience in avionics development, from component selection and firmware design to full system integration

• You’re confident with lab equipment (multimeters, scopes, spectrum analyzers, near‑field probes) and use them to diagnose and debug with purpose

• You have a deep understanding of Autonomy principles and know how to develop and deal with low level issues in a UAV fleet.

• You’ve worked with PX4 and ArduPilot and know where to go in the code to get what you need.

• You’re experienced with QGC and know how to customise it to your will.

• You’re familiar with hardware‑in‑the‑loop and environmental testing, and understand how designs fail in the wild

• You speak fluent English; German is a strong plus

• Most importantly, you’re structured, fast‑moving, and mission‑driven. You don’t wait for perfection. You iterate until it works. You love building things that last and love making them fly majestically..

Especially Valued Bonus Skills

• Architecture and software development skills.

• ArduPilot, PX4, or QGC open source contributor.

• Flying License A1-A3

• Experience with multi‑vehicle coordination.

Perks & Benefits

• Real Ownership: Get equity early, real stock options to participate directly in SE3’s growth

• Work Environment to Excel at: Find a high‑quality and modern toolset, flat hierarchy and a skilled, driven team which will push the limits together with you

• 31 Paid Days Off: 30 vacation days plus your birthday off

• Well‑being Access: Free membership to gyms, yoga, and wellness through EGYM Wellpass

• Team Offsites: We go on 2 company retreats per year, our last ones were in Italy and Greece

• Mentorship: Work closely with experienced engineers and get paired with a professional mentor to support your growth

Our Process

1. Intro Call (30 min): Let’s get to know each other

2. Technical Interview (45 min): (We will deep diver into your experience and the role)

3. Coding Interview(1 hr): (with our external coding partners)

4. One site trial/case (1.5h): let’s build and test a system together with our hardware team

5. Team Dinner / Lunch: Meet the team and see whether it is a strong fit on both sides.