Senior UAV Systems Engineer - Autopilot & Airframe

Flagship Pioneering

Louisville (CO)

On-site

USD 95,000 - 130,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Flagship Pioneering is seeking a UAS Systems Integration Engineer II for its hardware team in Boulder, CO. The role involves hands-on development across firmware, electronics, and airframe design to build a field-ready, long-range UAV platform for scientific missions.

You’ll co-develop autopilot stack, payload integration, and C2 link, working in a small, high-caliber team. The ideal candidate has experience in ArduPilot/PX4, C++, Python, RF design, and end-to-end system integration, with a

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master's degree in aerospace, electrical, mechanical, computer science, or closely related field; equivalent hands-on experience considered.
2–4 years (BS) or 0–2 years (MS) of hardware/software systems integration experience in real-world contexts.
Proficiency in C++ and Python; strong MAVLink and ArduPilot familiarity.
Experience with RF, avionics, and long-range UAV system integration.

Responsibilities

Configure, tune, and iterate autopilot firmware for fixed-wing airframes (PID, failsafe, auto modes, mission scripting).
Read, modify ArduPilot source code to extend autopilot capabilities and fix issues.
Design and iterate fixed-wing airframes for payload, endurance, and resilience.
Support flight tests: pre-flight checks, ground station setup, in-field troubleshooting, rapid firmware/hardware fixes.
Develop C2 link architecture, RF budgets, and spectrum compliance for BVLOS operations.
Create and maintain ground station software interfaces for mission planning and monitoring.
Integrate and validate onboard science payloads and sensors for data integrity.
Analyze flight logs to diagnose anomalies and improve reliability.
Document designs, test results, and component specs for scalability.