At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and deploy cutting-edge Spatial AI technology for autonomous drones and satellites.
- Company: Join SPAICE, a leader in geospatial intelligence for defence and aerospace.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, wellness perks, and exciting team retreats.
- Other info: Dynamic role with hands-on experience and excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Tackle real-world challenges in autonomy and make a tangible impact on missions.
- Qualifications: M.S. in a technical field with strong C++ and Python skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About SPAICE
SPAICE is building the geospatial intelligence layer for autonomous vehicles operating where GNSS is unavailable, unreliable, or denied. Our Spatial AI enables drones and satellites to determine their position, understand their surroundings, and transform every detection into actionable, geo-referenced intelligence. From denied airspace on Earth to complex orbital environments, SPAICE delivers resilient navigation and persistent situational awareness in any condition. At SPAICE, you’ll work on some of the hardest autonomy challenges across air and space, developing technology for GNSS-independent flight, orbital awareness, formation flying, and autonomous operations. You’ll work alongside a mission-driven team and leading aerospace and defence partners, turning advanced research into systems with a tangible impact on real-world missions.
About the Role
Autonomous drones operating in GPS-denied environments. Perception and navigation systems integrated into defence platforms. Spatial AI software deployed and validated during live field trials. Turning these capabilities into reliable operational systems requires more than strong technology. It requires engineers who can bridge the gap between our products, our customers, and the realities of deployment. As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you’ll work in small, highly technical teams and take ownership of high-stakes customer projects from initial requirements through integration, deployment, testing, and operational delivery. You’ll act as the technical bridge between SPAICE’s Spatial AI and autonomy technology and our customers’ real-world platforms and operating environments. Your work will span software engineering, system configuration, robotics integration, networking, hardware interfaces, field testing, and customer collaboration. This is a hands-on role for someone who can move comfortably between writing production code, debugging systems in the field, designing integration architectures, and communicating directly with defence, aerospace, and government stakeholders.
What you might work on
- Space & defence missions. Deploy and operationalise SPAICE technology with defence organisations, aerospace companies, government customers, and platform manufacturers, from customer integration facilities to live operational environments.
- End-to-end system integration. Integrate SPAICE’s perception, navigation, and autonomy software with drones, satellites, robotic platforms, flight computers, sensors, autopilots, communication systems, and customer-built infrastructure.
- Software and systems engineering. Develop production-quality software, configure Linux-based systems, build deployment tooling, and troubleshoot issues across applications, operating systems, networks, and hardware interfaces.
- Customer platform integration. Bridge customer-built systems and SPAICE’s products through APIs, middleware, communication protocols, data pipelines, and custom software components.
- Deployment and field testing. Configure and validate systems on embedded computers and edge AI hardware, support flight and field trials, analyse system behaviour, and resolve technical problems under real operational constraints.
What we are looking for
- M.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Strong C++ and Python skills.
- Experience integrating and deploying complex software systems.
- Broad knowledge of Linux, networking, embedded systems, robotics, or hardware integration.
- Ability to debug across software, operating systems, sensors, networks, and hardware.
- Experience with simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or field trials.
- Strong problem-solving skills in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
- Excellent communication and customer-facing skills.
- Willingness to travel to customer and test sites.
Perks & Benefits
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience and impact.
- Equity options – you will join us at the ground floor and share in the upside.
- Well-being perks – access to premium gyms, climbing centers, and wellness programs.
- Team retreats & offsites – recent adventures include a half-marathon in Formentera and a Los Angeles retreat during Oscars weekend.
Forward Deployed Engineer employer: SPAICE
At SPAICE, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration among top-tier aerospace professionals. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology in a fast-paced environment, where your contributions directly impact real missions in space and autonomous systems. Located at the forefront of aerospace advancements, SPAICE provides unique opportunities for meaningful work that shapes the future of navigation and control in challenging environments.
