Drone Autonomy Systems Engineer: Lab to Flight

Applied Intuition; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition, Inc. in Sunnyvale, CA, seeks an Autonomy Integration Engineer to bridge hardware, edge software and field flight operations for unmanned aerial systems.

You’ll work half lab, half airfield, configuring embedded Linux, deploying containerized stacks, and wiring networks to keep subsystems communicating. Expect 5+ years in robotics integration or flight-test engineering, strong Linux/Networking, hands-on hardware skills, and Python/C++ scripting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in robotics integration, flight test engineering, embedded systems or autonomous vehicles (aerial background preferred).
• Deep Linux CLI, file management and system logging experience, with Docker deployments.
• Hands-on hardware skills: wiring, soldering, diagnostics with scopes/meters.
• Strong Python/C++ or Shell scripting for automation and data processing.
• Familiarity with serial/vehicle bus protocols (UART, CAN, Ethernet, SPI, I2C).
• Ability to lead major integration efforts and coordinate software/hardware teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead system bring-up for unmanned aerial systems, moving from benchtop to active flight tests.
• Deploy and configure edge software using Docker images and Linux tools across onboard compute.
• Troubleshoot networks, payload interfaces, sensors in real time with CLI and diagnostics.
• Develop tooling and glue code in Python/C++ for data reduction, validation, and logging.
• Fabricate wiring harnesses and define system architecture with block diagrams.
• Manage IP routing and networks between flight controllers, radios and ground control.

Skills

Robotics integration

Flight test engineering

Embedded systems

Autonomous vehicles

Linux CLI

Networking

Python scripting

C++

Docker

Field operations

Tools

Docker

Oscilloscope

Multimeter

Soldering

Mesh radios

Job description

Applied Intuition, Inc. in Sunnyvale, CA, seeks an Autonomy Integration Engineer to bridge hardware, edge software and field flight operations for unmanned aerial systems.

You’ll work half lab, half airfield, configuring embedded Linux, deploying containerized stacks, and wiring networks to keep subsystems communicating. Expect 5+ years in robotics integration or flight-test engineering, strong Linux/Networking, hands-on hardware skills, and Python/C++ scripting.