Drone Engineer

Modernintelligence; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Modern Intelligence builds Sovereign, targeting software for unmanned systems. We are looking for a Drone Engineer to join a team responsible for keeping a highly heterogeneous fleet of drones up and running, integrating and evaluating autonomy software on new platforms, and solving issues in the flight controller, electrical systems, or mechanical problems.

We require experience with ArduPilot and Betaflight, PX4, CAD/3D printing, UGVs/USVs, and a degree in

Qualifications

• Experience with fixed wing and copter drones.
• Direct experience with ArduPilot or Betaflight.
• Willingness to relocate to Austin, Texas and travel.
• U.S. person status required due to export-controlled tech.
• Experience with ArduPilot and Betaflight, including ELRS/CRSF.
• Experience with UGVs/USVs and less common drone configurations.

Responsibilities

• Keep a highly heterogeneous fleet of drones up and running.
• Integrate and evaluate autonomy software on new platforms.
• Solve problems in flight controllers, electrical systems, or mechanical aspects.

Skills

Fixed wing experience

Copter drones

ArduPilot

Betaflight

ELRS/CRSF

UGV/USV experience

CAD

3D printing

Autonomy

Drone hardware/build

Education

Bachelor's or higher in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Computer Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

ArduPilot

Betaflight

PX4

CAD software

3D printing tools

Job description

Modern Intelligence builds Sovereign, targeting software for unmanned systems. Manufacturers install it on UAVs, USVs, UUVs, and other unmanned vehicles. Sovereign runs on the vehicle's computer. It detects, classifies, and tracks targets from the onboard cameras, keeps identity when the picture breaks up, and can run terminal guidance into impact. It keeps working when GPS is out and the radio is jammed.

We've held Department of War contracts, including work with Air Force Special Operations and SOCOM.

We've raised more than $12 million from Bedrock, Vine, Contrary, Air Street, Caffeinated, Champion Hill, Swell, Myelin, and others.

We are looking for someone who loves building and flying drones. You will be working with many many drones from a wide variety of companies. You will be responsible for keeping a highly heterogeneous fleet of drones up and running, while also playing a key role in integrating and evaluating our autonomy software on new platforms. We expect you to solve any problem that comes up in the drone's flight controller, the electrical systems, or any physical problem.

We are working with the job title of Drone Engineer, but we are open to using other titles that may be more suitable to the candidate: e.g. Aerospace Engineer (with appropriate background), Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, etc.

• Experience with both fixed wing and copter style drones.
• Direct experience with ArduPilot or Betaflight.
• Willingness to relocate to Austin, Texas.
• Willingness to travel.
• Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)). This role works on export-controlled technology.
• Experience with both ArduPilot and Betaflight, including ELRS/CRSF radio links.
• Experience with less common drone configurations such as tail sitters, VTOL, etc.
• Experience with UGVs and USVs.
• Has built their own drones.
• Experience with CAD and 3D printing.
• Degree in one of: Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering (or equivalent), or Computer Science.
• Experience with PX4.
• Experience with autonomy.
• Willingness to travel to Ukraine.

We are investing heavily in increasing our ability to fly, test, integrate with, and maintain drones from a wide array of different drone vendors. Although we have experience spread around our company, aside from a pilot, this is the first role we are hiring with this focus.

Strong candidates will have an opportunity to not only shape, but potentially own the team that owns all of our drones and drone development.