Air Vehicle Engineer - Drone Stack

About the role

As an Engineer within our Drone Stack team at Applied Intuition, you will serve as the technical anchor bridging hardware, edge software, and field flight operations. Split roughly 50/50 between the lab and the airfield, you will be responsible for bringing autonomous aerial systems from initial benchtop configuration to live operational flight. In this role, you will configure embedded Linux environments, deploy and validate containerized software stacks, wire up mesh network topologies, and write key middleware glue code to keep subsystems communicating seamlessly. You are as comfortable with a soldering iron and oscilloscope at the bench as you are SSH-ing into an onboard computer over a mesh radio under field conditions. This opportunity can also be located at our Drone Lab near Fort Walton Beach, Florida or at out Ann Arbor, MI office (relocation offered).

Responsibilities

• Lead System Bring-Up: Drive end-to-end hardware and software integration for unmanned aerial systems, moving platforms from benchtop prototyping to active flight test campaigns.
• Deploy & Configure Edge Software: Manage, configure, and deploy software stacks using Docker images, shell scripts, and Linux system tools across onboard computes and peripheral hardware.
• Field & Bench Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot vehicle networks, payload interfaces, and sensor links in real time using command-line tools (grep, less, journalctl, nano/vim) and hardware diagnostics (multimeters, oscilloscopes).
• Build Test Tooling & Glue Code: Develop Python and C++ scripts for data reduction, log analysis, system validation, and real-time subsystem verification.
• System Cabling & Electronics: Fabricate custom wiring harnesses, perform precision soldering, and define system-level architecture using clear block diagrams.
• Manage Communications & Networks: Configure IP routing, subnets, and local network interfaces between flight controllers, companion computers, radios, and ground control stations.

Requirements

• Experience: 5+ years of experience in robotics integration, flight test engineering, embedded systems, or autonomous vehicles (aerial background preferred).
• Linux & Networking Mastery: Deep practical comfort with the Linux CLI, file management, system logging, local IP routing, subnets, and containerized deployments (Docker).
• Hardware & Electronics Capability: Proven hands-on skills in wiring, custom cable assembly, bench soldering, and physical diagnostics using oscilloscopes and multimeters.
• Scripting & Glue Code: Strong proficiency in Python, C++, or Shell scripting for automation, test suite creation, and processing flight data logs.
• Protocols: Direct experience working with serial and vehicle bus protocols (UART, CAN, Ethernet, SPI, I2C).
• Leadership: Ability to lead major integration efforts independently and act as the technical link between software, GNC, and hardware teams.
• Bachelors degree in any field, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Nice to Have: Active DoD Secret Security Clearance.
• Nice to Have: Deep experience with the MAVLink protocol and autopilot hardware (PX4, ArduPilot).
• Nice to Have: Experience with Persistent Systems, Silvus, or similar tactical mesh radios.
• Nice to Have: FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and hands-on R/C flight experience.
• Nice to Have: Background working with defense tech platforms or flight ranges.
• Security Requirements: Must be a U.S. Citizen; Must hold or be eligible for a U.S. Secret security clearance.

Benefits

• Base salary
• Equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage
• 401k retirement benefits with employer match