Senior Software Engineer - UAV Ground Control Station; GCS

At EDGE bold ideas are engineered into technologies that protect, improve and save lives.

Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, EDGE is a leading advanced technology group working at the forefront of defence and emerging technologies. Spanning more than 35 specialised companies and multiple centres of excellence, we are purpose-built to move fast. Free from heavy legacy processes, we give our people the autonomy, accountability, and agility to bring breakthrough technologies from concept to reality.

Based in Abu Dhabi, a globally connected hub at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, EDGE is home to a truly multicultural community where bold ideas thrive, and the future is shaped.

Together, we are shaping the future.

The Senior Software Engineer - UAV Ground Control Station (GCS) will be responsible for developing, integrating, and verifying mission-critical software supporting UAV command and control, mission planning, telemetry, vehicle monitoring, and payload operations. The role combines C/C++ software development, real-time and embedded systems, HMI, communication interfaces, and UAV system integration, with exposure to flight-control systems, HIL testing, and operational environments.

• Design, develop, integrate, test, and maintain UAV GCS software using C/C++.
• Develop HMI/UI applications for mission planning, vehicle control, telemetry, payload management, and flight monitoring.
• Integrate GCS software with autopilots, flight-control systems, sensors, avionics, payloads, and communication systems.
• Develop and maintain communication interfaces including TCP/IP, UDP, CAN, Ethernet, RF/SATCOM, and UAV datalinks.
• Develop real-time processing for telemetry, video, vehicle health, and mission data.
• Work with RTOS, embedded platforms, simulation, and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) environments.
• Develop automated unit, integration, and system tests and support verification activities.
• Troubleshoot software, hardware/software integration, and system-level issues.
• Support field testing and UAV flight-test activities.
• Contribute to software architecture, requirements traceability, technical reviews, and cybersecurity.
• Support compliance with applicable aerospace and defense standards, including DO-178C and STANAG 4586.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior engineers.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer/Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 7-10+ years of relevant software engineering experience.
• Strong hands-on experience with C/C++.
• Experience in real-time, embedded, or mission-critical software development.
• Experience with RTOS, Linux and/or Windows development environments.
• Strong understanding of software architecture, object-oriented design, multithreading, and distributed systems.
• Experience with hardware/software integration and communication interfaces such as CAN, Ethernet, TCP/IP, UDP, or serial communications.
• Experience with software testing, integration, and verification.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Experience developing UAV Ground Control Station (GCS), UAS, command-and-control, or mission-critical control software.
• Experience integrating software with flight-control systems, autopilots, navigation systems, sensors, and payloads.
• Experience with HIL/simulation, automated testing, and flight-test support.
• Experience with FreeRTOS, VxWorks, or QNX, and ARM/STM
  32 platforms.
• Experience with UAV datalinks, RF/SATCOM, telemetry, and real-time communication systems.
• Experience with DO-178C or other safety-critical software development standards.
• Familiarity with STANAG 4586 / NATO…