More jobs:
UAV Autopilot Software Engineer
Job in
Westbourne, Dorset County, PO10, England, UK
Listed on 2026-10-23
Listing for:
Morson Edge
Contract
position Listed on 2026-10-23
Job specializations:
-
Software Development
Robotics, Embedded Systems/ Firmware/ IoT
Job Description & How to Apply Below
Location:
South West - On site initially, moving to a hybrid arrangement once familiar Duration: 6 months initial Option to go permanent Target rate: £60-65 ph Ltd
* Negotiable* Outside IR35 Role Summary We are looking for an Autopilot Software Engineer to develop, integrate, and test flight control software for our unmanned aerial systems using Ardu Pilot and/or PX4. You will work across the full stack — from low-level sensor drivers and control loops through to ground control station integration — supporting fixed-wing, multirotor, and VTOL platforms.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop and maintain firmware for Ardu Pilot and/or PX4 flight stacks, including custom drivers, control laws, and mission logic.
• Tune flight controllers (PID, EKF/INS parameters) and support flight testing across a range of airframes.
• Integrate sensors and payloads (GNSS/INS, IMU, airspeed, lidar, cameras) over MAVLink, CAN, UART, and I2C/SPI interfaces.
• Work with ground control stations (Mission Planner, QGroundControl) and support telemetry/command-and-control links.
• Debug flight logs and telemetry to diagnose in-field issues and improve system reliability and safety.
• Collaborate with hardware, systems, and test engineers to support platform integration and certification activities.
• Contribute to software documentation, version control, and CI/testing processes. Essential Skills & Experience
• Experience contributing to or working with Ardu Pilot and/or PX4 codebases.
• Solid understanding of flight dynamics, control theory, and state estimation (Kalman filtering/EKF).
• Experience with embedded Linux and/or real-time operating systems (NuttX, ChibiOS).
• Familiarity with MAVLink protocol and UAV communication architectures.
• Practical experience flight testing or bench testing UAV platforms.
• Degree in Aerospace, Electronic/Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience). Desirable
• Experience with ROS/ROS2, DroneCAN/UAVCAN, or companion computer integration.
• Familiarity with GPS-denied navigation, sensor fusion, or autonomy stacks.
• Knowledge of UK/EASA UAS regulations and BVLOS operations.
• Prior work in a defence, aerospace.
• Eligibility for UK Government security clearance (SC/DV)
To View & Apply for jobs on this site that accept applications from your location or country, tap the button below to make a Search.
(If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC).
(If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC).
Search for further Jobs Here:
×