Senior Autonomy Engineer

NODA AI•Austin, TX

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

NODA is a veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company that is transforming how unmanned systems collaborate in complex, mission-critical environments. We are developing next-generation solutions that enable the autonomous orchestration of heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space with vital applications in the defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors. We are building the autonomy layers that allow systems from multiple domains to operate in synchronized, adaptive, and resilient ways. Our autonomy engineers bridge the gap between high-level AI-driven mission intent and real-world execution across UAVs, USVs, and UUVs operating in contested and dynamic environments. Joining NODA means working on meaningful technology that pushes the boundaries of autonomy alongside a team that thrives on innovation, rapid iteration, and collaboration. We are seeking a Senior Autonomy Engineer to design and implement the autonomy stack that powers adaptive multi-vehicle orchestration. This role focuses on mission planning, path generation, behavior execution, and task allocation across heterogeneous fleets. You will work at the intersection of AI reasoning frameworks, event-driven autonomy stacks (e.g., Zenoh, MQTT), and distributed multi-agent systems, ensuring mission intent can be reliably executed and adapted in real-world conditions. Success in this role requires strong technical foundations in robotics, practical systems thinking, and a passion for delivering robust autonomy where reliability is non-negotiable.

Requirements

6+ years experience developing autonomy or robotics systems
Proficiency in C++ and Python for real-time autonomy development
Strong hands-on experience with event-driven/pub-sub middleware (Zenoh, MQTT, DDS, or similar)
Background in motion planning, navigation, and control systems
Experience with state estimation, sensor fusion, and autonomy validation
Familiarity with behavior trees, task allocation, or symbolic planners
Knowledge of simulation environments (Gazebo, Isaac Sim, AirSim, or equivalent)
U.S. Citizenship with ability to obtain a clearance

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in Rust for systems-level/real-time autonomy development
Experience with multi-agent coordination and swarm robotics
Exposure to autonomous vehicle domains (UAVs, UUVs, USVs)
Familiarity with MAVLink, JAUS, or STANAG 4586 protocols
Background in AI planning, reinforcement learning, or constraint solvers
Experience optimizing autonomy for embedded/real-time performance
Prior exposure to defense or aerospace autonomy systems
Contributions to open-source robotics or autonomy projects

Responsibilities

Design and implement autonomy modules including path planning, task allocation, behavior trees, and reactive execution models
Develop and maintain the autonomy framework that integrates with orchestration (AI-driven mission planning) and world modeling
Ensure AI-generated plans are executable, explainable, and safe across multi-domain robotic platforms
Implement and validate navigation, control, and autonomy behaviors for UAVs, USVs, and UUVs using event-driven middleware (Zenoh, MQTT, or similar) and simulation environments
Profile and optimize autonomy performance for edge compute hardware (Jetson, Raspberry Pi-class devices)
Conduct simulation-in-loop and hardware-in-loop testing to validate autonomy behaviors before live field deployment
Contribute to safety, reliability, and compliance practices for autonomy in defense-relevant missions
Collaborate across AI, networking, and systems engineering teams to ensure seamless orchestration of multi-vehicle operations

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals + Company match
Equity grants for new hires
Unlimited PTO
11 Paid holidays
Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November, & December.
Generous Parental Leave
Military Leave for annual training or service requirements
FSA
DCFSA
HSA
Professional Development Opportunities
Access to One Medical
Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.