Robotics Autonomy Engineer UAV

Ascend Engineering; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascend Engineering is seeking an engineer to develop and deploy autonomy capabilities on UAV platforms, from embedded flight software to mission logic and system integration. The role emphasizes reliability and practical field performance with hands‑on hardware and software work.

The ideal candidate enjoys debugging complex systems, flying test platforms, and owning projects from concept through field validation, in a United States-based setting.

Qualifications

• Experience modifying or contributing to PX4 or ArduPilot codebases.
• Strong C++ or C programming skills.
• Experience flying and testing UAV platforms.
• Familiarity with MAVLink, flight logs, and autopilot configuration.
• Experience debugging complex software and hardware interactions.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of tasks.

Responsibilities

• Develop and modify PX4 or ArduPilot firmware to support new autonomy features and system capabilities
• Implement mission logic, flight behaviors, and MAVLink integrations
• Integrate sensors, cameras, radios, and payloads into UAV platforms
• Conduct flight testing and validate system performance in real-world conditions
• Analyze flight logs and telemetry to diagnose and resolve issues
• Debug problems across the UAV stack including firmware, networking, hardware, and companion computers
• Collaborate with engineers to design robust UAV architectures and workflows
• Document system behavior, debugging results, and design decisions

Skills

PX4

ArduPilot

C++

C

MAVLink

Embedded systems

Tools

ROS

Embedded Linux

Job description

We are seeking an engineer to develop and deploy autonomy capabilities on UAV platforms using PX4 or ArduPilot. This role involves modifying autopilot firmware, integrating sensors and payloads, and validating autonomous behaviors through real-world flight testing. The engineer will work across the full UAV stack—from embedded flight software to mission logic and system integration—while maintaining a strong focus on reliability and practical field performance.

This position requires someone who enjoys both software development and hands‑on hardware work. The ideal candidate is comfortable debugging complex systems, flying test platforms, and taking ownership of projects from concept through field validation.

MUST HAVE PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN US

Responsibilities

• Develop and modify PX4 or ArduPilot firmware to support new autonomy features and system capabilities
• Implement mission logic, flight behaviors, and MAVLink integrations
• Integrate sensors, cameras, radios, and payloads into UAV platforms
• Conduct flight testing and validate system performance in real-world conditions
• Analyze flight logs and telemetry to diagnose and resolve issues
• Debug problems across the UAV stack including firmware, networking, hardware, and companion computers
• Collaborate with engineers to design robust UAV architectures and workflows
• Document system behavior, debugging results, and design decisions

Required Qualifications

• Experience modifying or contributing to PX4 or ArduPilot codebases
• Strong C++ or C programming skills
• Experience flying and testing UAV platforms
• Familiarity with MAVLink, flight logs, and autopilot configuration
• Experience debugging complex software and hardware interactions
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of engineering tasks
• Strong problem-solving skills and practical engineering judgment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building or configuring drones from components
• Familiarity with companion computers (Linux), MAVSDK, or ROS
• Experience integrating sensors such as LiDAR, cameras, or GPS systems
• Experience with embedded systems or hardware debugging
• Experience analyzing flight logs and tuning flight controllers
• Personal robotics, UAV, or embedded systems projects

What We Value

• Engineers who build and experiment outside of work
• Strong ownership and accountability for outcomes
• Practical, hands‑on problem solving
• Clear communication and collaboration within small teams
• Curiosity and continuous learning