Senior Robotics & Autonomy Engineer (Individual drone autonomy)

The role

You will design, develop, and optimize onboard autonomy and perception systems for individual drones on a multi-vendor platform. This role involves working with robotics, computer vision, and embedded systems to ensure reliable operation in GNSS-denied and EW-contested conditions.

What you will do

• Develop new features in navigation, flight control, sensor fusion, and photogrammetry.
• Adapt existing algorithms to new challenges like new sensor types or path planning.
• Turn R&D algorithms into production-ready solutions.
• Optimize onboard performance for latency, power consumption, and data throughput on a real-time, resource-constrained companion computer.
• Build and maintain simulation environments and digital twins.
• Support field tests for features.
• Work with the test-range team.
• Stay available online during flights.

Required qualifications

• 4+ years in robotics or autonomy engineering, ideally with UAVs or mobile robots.
• Strong Python on Linux.
• Solid grounding in linear algebra, control theory, probability, and numerical methods.
• Hands-on experience with state estimation, path planning, or flight control algorithms.
• Practical knowledge of drone physics.
• PX4, ArduPilot, or another MAVLink flight stack.
• Basic computer vision or photogrammetry.
• Basic electronics: reading schematics, using a multimeter, debugging sensors and power.
• English at B2 level or higher.

Nice to have

• Experience with C/C++ and embedded systems
• Contributions to PX4 or ArduPilot, or custom firmware changes.
• Airframe integration: sensor calibration, tuning, flight controller setup.
• VIO, visual navigation, or navigation integrity in GNSS-denied conditions.
• Experience in defense or EW-contested environments.
• You’ve built, flown, crashed and debugged your own drones.

Benefits

• 20 paid vacation days
• comprehensive health insurance
• paid sick leave
• Flexible working arrangements depending on operational and security requirements.
• Benefits of the defense sector (military reservation, etc.)

Before you apply

• Recruiter Screen
• Technical Interview
• Management Interview
• Security check

About the company

Swarmer develops software that makes drones autonomous and allows them to operate together in large, coordinated teams. The company is a Ukrainian defense startup that went public on NASDAQ in March 2026.