Senior ML Engineer, Drone Autonomy & Perception

Heven AeroTech; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 172,000; Full time

Job summary

Heven AeroTech in the United States seeks a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Autonomy to own the development of ML and autonomy for uncrewed aircraft. You will drive perception, planning, and mission-level decision making, collaborating with platform and flight-test teams.

You will deliver production-quality C++/Python software, optimize for embedded GPUs, and mentor junior engineers while advancing autonomy capabilities across the aircraft system.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of engineering experience in autonomy, robotics, machine learning, or related embedded software systems.
• Strong hands-on C++ and Python development skills, including Linux-based development, debugging, profiling, and modern ML frameworks.
• Experience deploying and optimizing software or ML models on resource-constrained onboard compute.
• Ability to work on-site in Bingen, WA and support hands-on aircraft integration, ground test, and flight test activities.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical execution of assigned autonomy capabilities, from requirements development to delivery.
• Translate mission needs into defined autonomous behaviors, operating constraints, performance requirements, and test acceptance criteria.
• Design and implement mission-level autonomous behaviors and coordination with operator commands and aircraft limits.
• Lead development and integration of perception capabilities, including object detection, tracking, sensor fusion, and geospatial reasoning.
• Develop verification strategies using simulation, SIL/HIL, bench testing, and automated testing to evaluate nominal and degraded conditions.

Skills

C++ development

Python

Linux

Machine Learning

Autonomy systems

Education

BA/BS in CS/EE/Robotics or related field

Tools

NVIDIA embedded platforms

CUDA

ROS 2

MAVLink

Job description

Heven AeroTech in the United States seeks a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Autonomy to own the development of ML and autonomy for uncrewed aircraft. You will drive perception, planning, and mission-level decision making, collaborating with platform and flight-test teams.

You will deliver production-quality C++/Python software, optimize for embedded GPUs, and mentor junior engineers while advancing autonomy capabilities across the aircraft system.