Autonomy Systems Architect

SYOS Aerospace; Mount Maunganui; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SYOS Aerospace in New Zealand seeks a Senior Autonomy Engineer to shape the autonomy capability for UAV/UGV/USV platforms and mentor engineers. You’ll guide complex technical decisions and work across guidance, navigation, perception, sensor fusion, ML and system integration.

You will collaborate with Autonomy, Software, Systems, Mechatronics and other technical leaders to deliver robust, deployable autonomous solutions that scale with our autonomous vehicle programs.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in autonomy engineering, robotics, GNC or related disciplines.
• Strong understanding of how engineering disciplines work together across domains.
• Proven track record as a senior technical contributor or lead.
• Experience developing autonomous systems on UAV/UGV/USV platforms.
• A foundation in systems engineering or systems‑level thinking.
• Mentoring engineers and raising technical capability within a team.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• Hands-on approach to engineering, integration and testing.
• Excellent communication and ability to influence technical direction.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted technical expert and mentor within the autonomy engineering team.
• Provide technical leadership across autonomy, GNC, perception, sensor fusion, ML and computer vision.
• Guide engineers through complex challenges and support engineering decisions.
• Develop and improve autonomy solutions for UAV, UGV and USV platforms.
• Contribute to system architecture and technical direction across multiple platforms.
• Work from modelling and simulation through embedded implementation, integration and testing.
• Apply systems thinking to requirements, interfaces, dependencies and interactions.
• Collaborate with Systems Engineering to ensure effective integration with the broader system.
• Help establish engineering best practices, standards and ways of working.
• Partner with Software, Systems, Mechatronics, Electronics and Flight Test teams.
• Review and challenge technical approaches and designs.
• Support the development of engineers through mentoring and knowledge sharing.
• Stay aligned with emerging autonomy technologies and opportunities.

Skills

Autonomy engineering

Robotics

GNC

Sensor fusion

Machine learning

Computer vision

Mentoring engineers

Systems thinking

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

C++

Python

ROS/ROS2

PX4

ArduPilot

Job description

SYOS Aerospace in New Zealand seeks a Senior Autonomy Engineer to shape the autonomy capability for UAV/UGV/USV platforms and mentor engineers. You’ll guide complex technical decisions and work across guidance, navigation, perception, sensor fusion, ML and system integration.

You will collaborate with Autonomy, Software, Systems, Mechatronics and other technical leaders to deliver robust, deployable autonomous solutions that scale with our autonomous vehicle programs.