Senior UAV Autonomy Engineer: GPS-Denied Navigation & Docking

SiMa.ai; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

SiMa.ai in San Jose, CA seeks a Sr. UAV Autonomy Engineer to build the core drone stack for GPS-denied navigation, docking and perception on embedded hardware.

You will own the autonomy stack, optimize for SWaP, and drive real-world flight testing with camera-IMU calibration and SIL/HIL rigs. Requirements include 5+ years in autonomy software on real aircraft, expertise in VIO/SLAM, multi-sensor fusion, ROS 2, C++/Python, and a BS/MS in Robotics, Aerospace, CS, or EE.

Qualifications

• Flight experience building autonomy software on real aircraft (5+ years) and MAVLink experience.
• Expertise in VIO/SLAM, multi-sensor fusion, state estimation, and closed-loop control.
• Strong C++, Python, ROS 2 skills and solid 3D geometry and rigid-body dynamics.
• BS or MS in Robotics, Aerospace, CS, or EE.

Responsibilities

• Develop core drone autonomy stack including navigation, perception and planning.
• Implement GPS-denied navigation, autonomous docking and precision landing.
• Optimize edge deployment for embedded hardware under power/weight limits.
• Lead tests: camera-IMU calibration, SIL/HIL rigs, and flight testing.

Skills

Flight Experience

Autonomy Depth

Software & Math

Education

Education

BS/MS in Robotics, Aerospace, CS, or EE

Tools

PX4/ArduPilot

ROS 2

MAVLink

Jetson (edge accelerators)

Job description

SiMa.ai in San Jose, CA seeks a Sr. UAV Autonomy Engineer to build the core drone stack for GPS-denied navigation, docking and perception on embedded hardware.

You will own the autonomy stack, optimize for SWaP, and drive real-world flight testing with camera-IMU calibration and SIL/HIL rigs. Requirements include 5+ years in autonomy software on real aircraft, expertise in VIO/SLAM, multi-sensor fusion, ROS 2, C++/Python, and a BS/MS in Robotics, Aerospace, CS, or EE.