Senior Autonomy Engineer

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

Big ideas. Real-world impact.

At SYOS Aerospace, we’re not here to do things the way they’ve always been done. We’re building the next generation of autonomous systems across air, land and sea - turning ambitious ideas into technology that works in the real world.

About the role

As a Senior Autonomy Engineer, you’ll be a trusted technical expert within SYOS, helping shape the autonomy capability behind our next generation of autonomous vehicles.

You’ll work across the broader autonomy landscape - from guidance, navigation and control through to perception, sensor fusion, machine learning, computer vision and autonomous decision-making.

This is a role for an experienced engineer who can see the bigger picture, solve complex problems and guide others. You’ll work closely with Autonomy, Software, Systems, Mechatronics and other technical leaders, providing technical guidance, mentoring engineers and helping turn ambitious ideas into robust, deployable systems.

You’ll also bring a foundation in systems engineering or exposure to systems-level thinking -understanding how autonomy interacts with the wider vehicle, its interfaces, requirements, sensors, software and hardware.

You won’t just be solving today’s problems - you’ll help shape how SYOS approaches autonomy as we scale.

What you’ll do

• Act as a trusted technical expert and mentor within the autonomy engineering team.
• Provide technical leadership across autonomy, GNC, perception, sensor fusion, machine learning and computer vision.
• Guide engineers through complex technical challenges and support sound engineering decisions.
• Develop and improve autonomy solutions for UAV, UGV and USV platforms.
• Contribute to system architecture and technical direction across multiple autonomous platforms.
• Work from modelling and simulation through embedded implementation, integration, testing and real-world deployment.
• Apply systems-level thinking to understand requirements, interfaces, dependencies and interactions across the vehicle.
• Work closely with Systems Engineering to ensure autonomy solutions integrate effectively with the broader system.
• Help establish engineering best practices, standards and ways of working across autonomy.
• Partner with Software, Systems, Mechatronics, Electronics and Flight Test teams to solve multidisciplinary problems.
• Review and challenge technical approaches, designs and engineering decisions.
• Support the development of engineers through mentoring, coaching and knowledge sharing.
• Stay across emerging autonomy technologies and identify opportunities to improve SYOS capability.
• Get hands‑on when required, particularly on complex technical problems, integration and testing.
• Help translate ambitious ideas into reliable technology that performs in the real world.

What you’ll bring

• Significant experience in autonomy engineering, robotics, GNC, software, mechatronics or a closely related discipline.
• Experience working on complex autonomous systems and a strong understanding of how different engineering disciplines come together.
• Proven ability to operate as a senior technical contributor, trusted expert or technical lead.
• Strong understanding of autonomy concepts such as navigation, control, perception, sensor fusion and autonomous decision-making.
• Experience developing or integrating autonomous systems on UAV, UGV, USV or other robotic platforms.
• A foundation in systems engineering or practical exposure to systems‑level engineering, including requirements, interfaces, integration and verification.
• A track record of mentoring engineers and raising technical capability within a team.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to move between the big picture and the technical detail.
• A practical, hands‑on approach to engineering, integration and testing.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to influence technical direction without relying on hierarchy.
• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics or a related discipline.

Nice to have

• Experience with machine learning, computer vision or perception.
• Strong GNC knowledge, including control theory, state estimation and sensor fusion.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, C++ and/or Python.
• Experience with ROS/ROS2, PX4 or ArduPilot.
• Real-time embedded systems or HIL experience.
• Experience taking autonomous systems from R&D through testing and operational deployment.
• Experience working within a systems engineering framework.
• Aerospace, defence, robotics, maritime or other advanced technology experience.

The SYOS Way

We’re growing fast, taking on bigger challenges and building technology that matters.

Work. Build. Innovate. Get Results. Surf. Repeat.

We’re looking for a trusted expert who wants to shape autonomy, develop great engineers and help build something that hasn’t been built before.

Come build with us. Challenge us. Grow with us.