Founding Engineer, Robotics and Flight Software

IMPACT Drones; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Impact Drones in San Francisco is hiring its founding engineer to own the software that decides, launches and guides an interceptor against hostile drones targeting critical infrastructure. You will ship flight software to real hardware and help shape the first engineering team.

The role blends C++ (or Rust) on embedded systems with Python, field testing, and full system integration of sensors, launch bays and operator interfaces.

Qualifications

• Shipped software on real hardware that flew or tested in flight.
• Strong C++ (or Rust) on embedded or real-time systems, plus Python.
• Depth in flight software, robotics or embedded systems.
• Field tests you ran and fixes that came out of them.

Responsibilities

• Own the software path from radar track to interceptor in air.
• Develop flight software for HUNTER and WEAVER.
• Integrate sensors, launch bays and operator screens.
• Conduct field testing and decide readiness to fly.
• Hire and lead the next engineers.

Skills

C++/Rust on embedded or real-time

Python

Flight software/robotics

Field tests / hardware fixes

Job description

We are Jasper and Alessandro, the founders of Impact Drones (YC S26). We are hiring our founding engineer: the person who owns the software that decides, launches and guides an interceptor when a hostile drone comes for a data center, a refinery, an airport or a power grid.

In March 2026, Iranian drones struck three AWS data centers in the UAE and Bahrain. Fiber-optic FPV drones cannot be jammed. The only thing that stops them is a physical intercept. That is what we build.

About Impact Drones We sell Air Defense as a Service to civilian critical infrastructure. One container on site senses, decides and launches our interceptors: HUNTER, a kinetic quadcopter in combat in Ukraine against Shahed-class drones; WEAVER, which catches drones intact in a net; and SABLE, our turbojet interceptor. We integrate radars and own the software. First LOIs signed with defense and data-center customers.

What you will own

• Our response software: the path from a radar track to an interceptor in the air.
• Flight software on HUNTER and WEAVER.
• Container integration: sensors, launch bays and the operator screen.
• Field testing at the range, and the call on what is ready to fly.
• Hiring and leading the next engineers.

What you bring

• Software you shipped onto real hardware that flew, not only in simulation.
• Strong C++ (or Rust) on embedded or real-time systems, plus Python.
• Depth in flight software, robotics or embedded systems.
• Field tests you ran yourself, and the fixes that came out of them.

Bonus points

• You fly FPV or build quads, and have worked in PX4, ArduPilot or Betaflight.
• Counter-UAS, defense or aerospace experience.
• You have hired and led engineers.

Compensation

• Base salary: $140,000 to $180,000 per year.
• Equity: 0.5% to 1.25%, 4-year vesting with a 1-year cliff.

Where we work On-site in San Francisco, CA, with regular field testing at outdoor ranges.

Jasper and Alessandro

This role may involve technical data subject to U.S. export controls (ITAR and EAR). Applicants must be U.S. persons or eligible for any required export authorization.

Impact Drones is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in line with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.