Autopilot Engineer; Control

Permanent employee, Full-time

Devon, South West England

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.

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

• 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

• 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

For further information, please reach out to

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, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Due to the nature of our work in the defense sector, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position.