Embedded Systems & Autonomy Engineer

Volatus Aerospace•Vaughan, ON

3d•CA$75,000 - CA$85,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are looking for an Embedded Systems & Autonomy Engineer to join our R&D division. You will design, implement, and validate autonomy algorithms for our UAV platforms, integrate custom software with open-source flight control firmware, and work alongside our Operations team during field deployments and testing campaigns. This is a hands-on engineering role that spans algorithm development, hardware integration, and real-world validation in operational environments.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field
3+ years of hands-on experience with PX4 and/or ArduPilot firmware -configuration, customization, and extension
Strong working knowledge of ROS and/or ROS2 -node development, launch systems, tf, topics, services, and actions
Experience with Pixhawk flight controller hardware and the MAVLink communication protocol
Proficiency in C++ and Python for embedded and real-time systems development
Experience integrating sensors -cameras, IMUs, GNSS, LIDAR -with UAV platforms
Hands-on experience flying and testing UAV systems in field environments
Strong debugging and systems troubleshooting skills across hardware and software
Ability to work in the field -physically capable of equipment handling and travel to remote sites

Nice To Haves

Experience with UAV control systems architecture -attitude control, position control, mission management
Familiarity with Gazebo, AirSim, or SITL simulation environments for UAV development
Knowledge of computer vision fundamentals - OpenCV, feature detection, image processing pipelines
Experience with NVIDIA Jetson or similar edge computing platforms
Background in defence, industrial, or Arctic / northern operations environments
Exposure to DO-178C, transport Canada RPAS regulations, or equivalent certification frameworks
Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing setups
Familiarity with GIS tools, georeferencing, and geospatial data formats

Responsibilities

Design and implement autonomy algorithms for UAV platforms using C++, Python, and ROS/ROS2
Develop and validate state estimation, sensor fusion, and closed-loop control logic
Write simulation environments for algorithm testing prior to hardware deployment
Optimize algorithms for real-time performance on embedded flight computer hardware
Integrate custom autonomy modules with PX4 and ArduPilot open-source firmware stacks
Develop and maintain custom MAVLink protocol extensions and companion computer interfaces
Configure and tune Pixhawk-based flight controller hardware for specific airframe and mission requirements
Manage firmware build systems, parameter management, and version control across platforms
Interface vision, LIDAR, IMU, GNSS, and other payloads with the flight computer and ROS ecosystem
Develop camera and imaging system drivers, calibration pipelines, and data handling workflows
Implement real-time sensor processing pipelines on companion computers (NVIDIA Jetson, Raspberry Pi, or equivalent)
Support the Operations team during field testing campaigns -preparing aircraft, configuring systems, and executing test plans
Instrument flight systems for data capture, monitor telemetry, and perform post-flight analysis
Diagnose and resolve hardware and software issues in the field under time pressure
Document test results, anomalies, and lessons learned, and feed findings back into the development cycle
Travel to field sites as required, including remote locations and variable weather environments
Write clean, well-documented code with unit and integration tests
Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and technical planning sessions
Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers across the R&D team
Contribute to IP development and internal technical documentation