Senior C++ Drone Autonomy Engineer

Applied Intuition; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition is seeking a Software Engineer for the Drone Stack team to design and integrate autonomy and vehicle intelligence systems across hardware and software domains. You will deploy autonomy algorithms in SIL, HIL, and live test environments while collaborating with cross-functional teams for robust hardware-software integration.

The role emphasizes strong C++ engineering with a passion for robotics, on-site collaboration, and frequent on-site demonstrations.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Robotics, CS, or related field.
• 5–10 years hands-on experience with robotic systems (hardware, software, and integration).
• Proficient in C++.
• Experience with Pixhawk autopilots (ArduPilot and/or PX4).
• Experience with UART/RS232/RS422/RS485, SPI/QSPI, I2C, Ethernet.
• Experience developing in Docker, containerized deployments, and Linux-based OS (RHEL/Ubuntu).
• Experience using Git, VS Code, GitLab.
• Familiar with SIL/HIL and safety-critical software environments.
• Willingness to travel 10–20% for on-site integration and demos.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible for U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design and integrate autonomy and vehicle intelligence systems across hardware and software domains.
• Deploy autonomy algorithms in SIL, HIL, and live test environments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for seamless hardware-software integration.
• Support live flight tests of autonomy software on UAVs and demonstrations.
• Collaborate with external vendors to integrate autonomy software on OEM hardware.

Skills

C++

Robotics

Embedded Linux

Networking

Git

Docker

Education

BS in Robotics or CS

Tools

Pixhawk

ArduPilot

Jetson

CMake

Job description

Applied Intuition is seeking a Software Engineer for the Drone Stack team to design and integrate autonomy and vehicle intelligence systems across hardware and software domains. You will deploy autonomy algorithms in SIL, HIL, and live test environments while collaborating with cross-functional teams for robust hardware-software integration.

The role emphasizes strong C++ engineering with a passion for robotics, on-site collaboration, and frequent on-site demonstrations.