Founding Engineer - Embedded Software and Robotics Systems

Flyer Ai; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Significant equity

Unlimited paid time off

Immediate impact in shaping engineering culture

Competitive salary with future uplift

Job summary

A pioneering technology startup is seeking a Founding Engineer for Robotics and Embedded Systems to work onsite in Salisbury. You will design and test the digital systems of autonomous VTOL aircraft, directly impacting the project's success from the start. The ideal candidate will possess deep embedded systems knowledge and have a passion for innovative technology. This role offers a competitive salary, significant equity, and unlimited paid time off while shaping the company's engineering culture.

Qualifications

• Passionate and driven individual who dreams of transforming technology.
• Intuitive problem-solving skills and first-principles thinking.
• Familiarity with commercial and open source UAV flight controllers.
• Intuitive problem-solving and first-principles thinking.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, integration, coding, and testing of autonomous VTOL aircraft systems.
• Work directly with the founder and the founding team to develop technology.
• Shape the engineering culture of the company as one of the first employees.

Skills

Team player with strong values

Embedded software understanding

Problem-solving skills

Electrical Engineering expertise

Familiarity with ROS2

Proven expertise in testing robotic systems

Knowledge of OpenCV

Experience with Raspberry Pi

Familiarity with UAV flight controllers

Sensors

Tools

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Job description

Founding Engineer - Robotics and Embedded Systems

The first stage of our application process is a short Q&A session with our LLM interviewer. If you don't wish to proceed at any stage, you may type 'end interview'

Where you'll fit in

A small and focussed team has been developing our prototype aircraft for technical demonstrations and seed fundraising in Q1 2026. Now in receipt of 2 separate grant funding awards, Flyer is expanding our 3-person founding team with 3 key, critical roles.

You will join this incredible team, onsite, working directly with the founder and our expanding team to take Flyer from tech startup to global phenomenon over the next 5 years.

LOCATION

We are currently located near the beautiful and vibrant city of Salisbury, in Wiltshire. A move early next year to premises nearer Bristol or London is under consideration.

What you'll be doing

As a founding engineer for Robotics and Embedded Systems at Flyer AI, you'll own the design, integration, coding and testing of our autonomous VTOL aircraft's digital and electronic systems.

In other words, you will own the brain and nervous system of the aircraft.

Our vehicle is not just an aircraft – it is a complex robotic system integrating multiple sensors and processors, and executing multiple functions.

What we're looking for

We are not looking for ordinary people. We're looking for passionate, driven and enthusiastic team members who dream of doing impossible things with technology, and changing the world around us.

• Team players who live our values: passion, commitment, courage, integrity, and trust.
• A fail-fast, forward-leaning mindset that takes measured risks to move fast
• A deep understanding of embedded software and electronic systems such as STM, Raspberry Pi and Nvidia devices, sensors and databuses
• Familiarity with ROS2
• Proven expertise in design, integration, and testing robotic / embedded systems
• Intuitive problem-solving skills and first-principles thinking
• Knowledge of OpenCV and end-to-end vision systems
• Electrical Engineering expertise
• Familiarity with RF communications
• Familiarity with commercial / open source UAV flight controllers and firmware.

What you'll get

• Significant Equity – as a founding team member, you will own a significant stake in the future we are building
• Immediate Impact - you will be one of the first 6 employees, shaping the engineering culture from day one.
• Competitive salary – an initial stipend plus salary uplift following Q1 2026 fundraising
• Unlimited paid time off – take what you need, when you need it