Senior Autopilot / Controls Engineer

STARK is bringing its expertise in software‑defined unmanned systems to the maritime domain. Traditional fleets alone cannot safeguard this vast, critical space. Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) extend naval reach at lower cost and reduced risk to personnel.

Our maritime family of systems is AI‑enabled and built for reliable performance in the harshest seas, delivering NATO a fully integrated hardware–software capability for scalable ISR and strike operations.

Your mission

Reporting directly to the Head of the Control team, as an Autopilot Engineer you will help develop/customize autopilot firmware for autonomous system operations.

Responsibilities

• Optimise/modify/program autopilot firmware to process the commands of our autonomous system
• Make it compatible with our AI systems
• Testing, debugging both autopilot and its integration into the controller.
• Integrating it into our simulation via software‑in‑the‑loop / hardware‑in‑the‑loop.
• Help solve upcoming challenges within the team
• Applying problem solving skills to contribute to achieving team goals

Qualifications

• Bachelor´s or Master´s degree in Robotics, software engineering, computer science, or similar relevant areas of expertise
• +3 to 6 years of experience working in similar roles within this industry
• Expert in MAVlink protocol
• Good knowledge of PX4 firmware
• Expert in C++ and Python
• Excellent understanding of microcontrollers for real time operating systems
• Understanding of control systems
• Excellent team player
• Applicants MUST eligible for UK Security Clearance and willing to be in Devon 2‑3 days per week