Software Engineer - Robotics

Applied; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition Defence UK is seeking a Robotics Software Engineer to develop autonomy software for defense platforms. You will integrate software with Pixhawk autopilots, build modular autonomy capabilities, and work across embedded Linux and hardware interfaces.

You will engage in SIL/HIL testing, live flight tests, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver reliable, scalable autonomy solutions for defense customers.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Robotics, Computer Science, or a related engineering field.
• 3+ years hands-on robotics experience (hardware, software, integration).
• Experience with modern C++ and autonomy/navigation algorithms.
• Experience integrating autonomy/robotics products with Pixhawk autopilots (ArduPilot and/or PX4).
• Familiarity with embedded Linux and containerized deployments.
• Experience with communication buses & protocols: UART/RS232/RS422/RS485, SPI/QSPI, I2C, Ethernet.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deploy autonomy software for defense platforms and missions.
• Design modular, reusable autonomy capabilities across vehicle types.
• IntegrateAutonomy onto embedded Linux and hardware platforms with sensors.
• Conduct SIL/HIL testing and live flight test support for UAVs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and 3rd party vendors to deliver robust autonomy software.

Skills

Robotics software

Modern C++

Pixhawk integration

Embedded systems

Education

BS/MS in Robotics or CS

Tools

Pixhawk Autopilots

Docker

Linux (RHEL/Ubuntu)

Job description

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company's solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co. We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positions.

Robotics Software Engineer

About Applied Intuition Defence

Defence Applied Intuition UK is a software and infrastructure supplier that accelerates the deployment of next‑generation autonomous capabilities to the warfighter across air, land, sea, and space. A subsidiary of Applied Intuition, we deliver dual‑use solutions to national security customers that build upon several years of product development and experience from commercial autonomy programs. Based in London, our seasoned defence team hails from Palantir, Anduril, SpaceX, Google, Lockheed Martin, and the UK and US Armed Services. Learn more at appliedintuitiondefense.com.

About the role

As a Robot Software Engineer, your day-to-day life will vary. Some days you might find yourself out in the field, integrating hardware and software directly onto vehicle platforms and pushing autonomy algorithms through live testing. Other days you'll be back in the office, deep in SIL and HIL environments, working through the complex autonomy and vehicle intelligence systems that span both hardware and software domains. And some days you'll be on‑site with a customer, demoing what you built and troubleshooting in real‑time as they put it to the test. Every day is different, and each one moves the work forward. Along the way, you'll touch whatever it takes to make the platform work, such as behaviours development, platform integration, navigation, and everything in between. You'll collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams to deliver robust, scalable autonomy solutions for defense customers, drawing on computer networking, code integration, and a genuine passion for robotics. You'll build, test, and deploy your software, and then watch it actually fly.

At Applied Intuition you will:

• Develop and adapt mission behavior, navigation, and decision‑making logic to meet the needs of diverse defense platforms and missions
• Design and implement autonomy capabilities that are modular and reusable across different vehicle types and programs
• Integrate and deploy autonomy solutions onto embedded Linux and other hardware platforms, including interfacing with sensors and collecting data
• Conduct system‑level setup, testing, and validation, including software‑in‑the‑loop (SIL) and hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) evaluations
• Support live flight test of autonomy software on Group 1-5 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
• Troubleshoot complex software and integration issues to ensure high reliability and performance across the stack
• Collaborate with 3rd party UAS vendors and cross‑functional teams to bring autonomy software to life on OEM and Applied hardware alike

Who we're looking for:

• BS or MS in Robotics, Computer Science, or related engineering field
• 3+ years of hands‑on experience working with robotic systems (hardware, software, and integration)
• Experience with modern C++
• Experience developing autonomy behavior and decision‑making logic (e.g., behavior trees, state machines) and/or navigation algorithms for robotic or autonomous systems
• Experience integrating autonomy/robotics products with Pixhawk autopilots (ArduPilot and/or PX4)
• Experience integrating with communication busses & protocols: UART/RS232/RS422/RS485, SPI/QSPI, I2C, Ethernet
• Experience developing in Docker, containerized deployment environments, and using Linux‑based operating systems (e.g., RHEL, Ubuntu)
• Familiarity with real‑time, edge computing, and safety‑critical systems operating in software‑in‑the‑loop (SIL), hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL), test & operational environments
• Excellent communication skills an