UAV Autopilot Software Engineer

UAV Autopilot Software Engineer (ArduPilot / PX4)
Location: Wiltshire
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 ArduPilot 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 ArduPilot 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 ArduPilot 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)