Drone Systems Engineer - Field & Lab Bring-Up

Applied Intuition; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition in Sunnyvale, CA, seeks an experienced Engineer for the Drone Stack team to bring autonomous aerial systems from benchtop configurations to live flight. The role blends lab work with field operations, including embedded Linux, mesh networks, and containerized software deployments.

You will wire, test, and validate hardware/software interfaces, develop glue code in Python/C++, and troubleshoot in real-time on the airfield and lab bench.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in robotics integration, flight test engineering, embedded systems, or autonomous vehicles (aerial background preferred).
• Deep practical comfort with the Linux CLI, file management, system logging, local IP routing, subnets, and containerized deployments (Docker).
• Proven hands-on skills in wiring, custom cable assembly, bench soldering, and physical diagnostics using oscilloscopes and multimeters.

Responsibilities

• Lead System Bring-Up: drive end-to-end hardware and software integration for unmanned aerial systems from benchtop to active flight.
• Deploy & Configure Edge Software: manage and deploy software stacks across onboard computes and peripheral hardware using Docker and Linux tools.
• Field & Bench Troubleshooting: diagnose networks, sensor links, and payload interfaces in real time with CLI tools and hardware diagnostics.
• Build Test Tooling & Glue Code: develop Python and C++ scripts for data reduction, log analysis, and system validation.
• System Cabling & Electronics: fabricate wiring harnesses, perform soldering, and define system architecture with block diagrams.
• Manage Communications & Networks: configure IP routing and local interfaces between flight controllers, radios, and ground stations.

Skills

Robotics integration

Flight test engineering

Embedded systems

Autonomous vehicles

Linux CLI

Networking

Python

C++

Soldering

Wiring

Docker

Mesh networks

IP routing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in any field, or equivalent

Tools

Docker

Oscilloscope

Multimeter

Job description

Applied Intuition in Sunnyvale, CA, seeks an experienced Engineer for the Drone Stack team to bring autonomous aerial systems from benchtop configurations to live flight. The role blends lab work with field operations, including embedded Linux, mesh networks, and containerized software deployments.

You will wire, test, and validate hardware/software interfaces, develop glue code in Python/C++, and troubleshoot in real-time on the airfield and lab bench.