Autopilot Software Engineer

Callen-Lenz; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Pension Scheme via Royal London

Company contributed Share Incentive PL

Green Car Scheme

Life assurance (6x salary)

Private Health Insurance

Training & development opportunities

Job summary

Callen-Lenz in Salisbury, UK, seeks an Autopilot Software Engineer to develop and test ArduPilot/PX4 based flight control systems for diverse UAV platforms. You will optimise flight behaviour, assist with sensor integration, and contribute to documentation within an R&D team.

The role requires hands-on autopilot experience, strong C++ skills, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, with occasional national and international travel.

Qualifications

• Proven hands-on experience with Ardupilot, PX4, or similar open-source autopilot stacks.
• Strong knowledge of MAVLink, mission planning, and UAV communication protocols.
• Practical UAV tuning, flight testing, and log analysis.
• Excellent working knowledge of C++.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced R&D environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop, configure, and test Ardupilot-based flight control systems for various UAV platforms.
• Test and optimise flight behaviours, parameters, and mission execution in SITL and real flight environments.
• Support sensor integration (GPS, cameras, LiDAR) and ensure robust flight performance.
• Contribute to documentation, simulation environments, and internal development standards.
• Assist in software requirements capture and documentation; support software architecture.

Skills

ArduPilot

PX4

MAVLink

C++

Flight testing

Autopilot tuning

CAN/SPI/I2C/UDP/TCP

Software development

Linux

PID control

Education

BSc or MSc in Engineering or Science

Tools

ArduPilot

PX4

Mission Planner

MAVProxy

Job description

Vacancy Reference: CLA- 415

Position: Full-time

Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK

Salary: £50,000 - £60,000

At Callen-Lenz, we are expanding the limits of what is possible. We specialise in crewed and uncrewed aircraft operations and technology and having recently received investment into the business we are going through a period of rapid growth and development and are looking for key roles to assist with these changes. Callen-Lenz offers innovative and customer-focused UAS solutions through our 4 key business strands: technical services, products, platforms and operational services. We are looking for individuals to help drive forward our expansion, placing you at forefront of UAS development in the UK.

• Excellence

Our Values

• Innovation
• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Excellence

Why Work for Us

Based in the heart of rural Wiltshire, close to the Historic city of Salisbury you will join our rapidly growing, friendly and multi-disciplined team, working on a range of diverse and interesting projects, leading the way in this exciting field and witnessing the full lifecycle of our products. The Callen-Lenz team are passionate about what we do, and we are searching for individuals to grow with us as we expand into the aerospace industry.

Our Benefits Include

• 25 days annual leave per year (plus bank holidays)
• Buy/Sell holiday policy up to 5 days either way
• Pension Scheme via Royal London
• Company contributed Share Incentive Plan.
• Green Car Scheme
• Life assurance scheme (6x basic salary)
• Income protection policy (75% of basic salary)
• Private Health Insurance via Bupa
• Private Dental insurance via Bupa
• Enhanced Maternity and paternity
• 1 Professional membership reimbursed per year
• 1 paid volunteering day per year
• Access to an independent financial advisor year round
• Training & development opportunities

About The Role

As an Autopilot Software Engineer, you will be working on cutting‑edge UAV projects. This exciting role will place the right candidate at the forefront of unmanned air systems development in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Develop, configure, and test Ardupilot-based flight control systems for various UAV platforms.
• Test and optimise flight behaviours, parameters, and mission execution in both SITL (Software-in-the-Loop) and real flight environments.
• Support sensor integration (GPS, cameras, LiDAR, etc.) and ensure robust flight performance.
• Contribute to documentation, simulation environments, and internal development standards.
• Assist in software high-level requirements capture and documentation.
• Support software architectural design.
• Contribution to innovation by assisting in research into and application of emergent technologies.
• Support the implementation of the Software Engineering Quality Practices.
• Participation in peer reviews.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Health and Safety

• Demonstrate in daily activities a commitment to health and safety in the workplace by always ensuring tasks are performed in the safest possible manner.
• Report all hazards and incidents that the individual is party to, or observes, in the correct manner.
• When required or directed, participate in any health and safety training.

Qualifications

• BSc or MSc degree in an Engineering or Science subject is desirable. Preferably with experience in aeronautical or aviation industries.

Essential

Skills and Experience

• Proven hands‑on experience with Ardupilot, PX4, or similar open‑source autopilot stacks.
• Strong knowledge of MAVLink, mission planning, and UAV communication protocols.
• Practical experience with UAV tuning, flight testing, and log analysis (Mission Planner, MAVProxy, etc.).
• Excellent working knowledge of C++
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced R&D environment.
• Experience working with communication protocols such as: CAN, SPI, I2C, UDP, TCP.
• Experience taking a design from software requirements definition through to completion.

Desirable

• Familiarity with Linux environments and Ardupilot SITL.
• Exposure to other programming languages such as LUA (strong plus), Python, Rust.
• Knowledge of safety related engineering practices.
• Working in an Agile environment.
• Background of aeronautics and control systems.
• Familiarity with PID control loops.
• Experience with flight control systems.
• General interest in aviation.

Personal Attributes

• Must be a British Citizen or have an existing right to work in the UK.
• Ability to commit to occasional national and international travel.
• A full valid UK driving license.
• Excellent communicator.
• Excellent problem‑solving ability.
• Ability to work well in a team.
• Enthusiasm for their work and self‑motivated.
• Ability to hold Security Clearance – 5 years residence in the UK.

Callen-Lenz is an equal opportunities employer, committed to building an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. It is essential that the successful candidate must, by the start of their employment have permission to work in the UK. Proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK will be required prior to commencement of employment.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.