Autonomous Systems Engineer

About Us

STARK is a defense technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned vehicles that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective – giving NATO and its allies a decisive edge in the most contested environments. We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems—not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe—today.

Your mission

We are seeking a talented Autonomous System Engineer who will develop the algorithms and software stacks that enable our UAVs to perceive their environment, navigate complex spaces, and execute missions autonomously. You will bridge the gap between high-level mission planning and low-level flight control.

Responsibilities

• Systems Engineering: Define system-level requirements, perform trade studies, and manage the technical budget.
• System Integration: Perform requirements decomposition from mission-level goals to technical specs; manage technical budgets and validation criteria.
• Algorithm Development: Design and implement algorithms for path planning, obstacle avoidance, SLAM and tracking.
• Sensor Fusion: Integrate and filter data from multiple sources (LiDAR, IMU, GPS, and MIPI cameras) to create a unified state estimate.
• Flight Testing: Lead field testing of autonomous behaviors and analyze flight logs to tune performance.
• Behavior Logic: Develop finite state machines or behavior trees for complex mission sequencing.
• Documentation: Writing/preparing documentation for algorithms, testing and systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor´s or Master´s degree in Robotics, computer science, software engineering, or similar relevant areas of expertise.
• UAV Domain Expertise: Deep understanding of flight dynamics, aerodynamics, and coordinate systems (NED/ECEF/Body frames).
• Control Theory: Proven experience in feedback control, stability analysis, and loop tuning.
• Autopilot Ecosystems: Strong experience configuring and customizing PX4 or ArduPilot flight stacks.
• MAVLink: Proficiency in using MAVLink/MAVSDK for vehicle communication and mission control.
• Sensor Fusion: Hands-on experience with GPS-aided navigation and IMU filtering techniques.
• ROS2: Experience using ROS2 for high-level mission planning or 'offboard' control.
• Python: Proficiency for algorithm prototyping, scripting, and flight log analysis.

Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance.

Nice to Have

• NVIDIA Jetson: Experience with the NVIDIA Jetson platforms.
• C++: Experience in developing and testing algorithms in C++.
• MATLAB / Simulink: Experience with Model-Based Design and automated code generation.
• Simulation: Proficiency in Gazebo, jMAVSim, or AirSim for 'Software-in-the-Loop' (SITL) testing.
• GPS-Denied Navigation: Experience with Optical Flow, Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO), or LiDAR-based SLAM.

SECURITY CLEARANCE

Due to the nature of our work in the defence sector, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance required for this position. Details will be provided during the recruitment process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.