Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Embedded Software Engineer

Airbus•Bingen, WA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Airbus/Aerovel is seeking a proactive, detail-oriented Embedded Software Engineer to build unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. The role contributes to the design, development, and deployment of embedded flight software and ground control station (GCS) software that enable intelligent and autonomous flight. The engineer will collaborate with hardware, systems, and software teams on flight control, communication, navigation, and operator-interface projects. The position is suited to engineers with a foundation in embedded systems and at least two years of experience who value clean, maintainable code, collaboration, curiosity, and continued learning. The work includes developing embedded software for UAV flight platforms and GCS software, including user interfaces, telemetry, and mission tools. It also involves real-time flight software, communication protocols, embedded Linux system services, system configuration tools, integration, testing, documentation, and support of existing software. The position is based in Bingen, Washington, and is listed as on-site, with the physical requirements section specifying 95% on-site. The stated salary range is $81,000–$114,000 per year, subject to geographic differential and individual skills, experience, and other relevant factors.

Requirements

B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
At least 2 years of embedded software development experience, through industry roles or substantial project work.
Experience with C++ and Python.
Familiarity with embedded Linux or real-time operating systems (RTOS).
Exposure to UAV flight control concepts, sensor integration, or telemetry systems.
Experience using Git and development tools such as GitLab or similar.
Strong focus on clean, well-documented, maintainable code.
Familiarity with modern UI software architecture and development practices, such as Qt, PyQt, or similar frameworks.
Must be able to work legally in the United States with valid work authorization.

Nice To Haves

M.S. in Embedded System Engineering, Software Engineering, or Control System Engineering.
Experience with UAV autopilot software.
Exposure to Ground Control Station software.
Hands-on experience with UAV flight testing or platform integration.
Awareness of aerospace safety standards or robust software validation practices.
Basic understanding of aircraft systems, particularly guidance, navigation, and control (GNC).
Exposure to real-time operating systems (RTOS) and/or safety-critical software environments.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and maintain embedded software for UAV flight platforms.
Contribute to Ground Control Station software, including user interfaces, telemetry, and mission tools.
Write reliable, maintainable, and well-documented code in C++, C, Python, and/or MATLAB.
Develop and support real-time flight software, including control loops, sensor drivers, and mission logic.
Implement and test communication protocols such as UART, CAN, TCP/IP, UDP, and serial.
Design, develop, and support software tools for UAV system configuration.
Develop software modules and system services for embedded Linux platforms, including process management, device interfaces, and inter-process communication.
Support testing and debugging in lab environments and during field flight tests.
Collaborate with hardware, electrical, and systems engineers to bring up and integrate new UAV platforms.
Document internal designs, software architecture, and interfaces.
Maintain and support existing embedded and ground control software.
Stay current with UAV industry developments and continue developing skills.
Collaborate with other software developers and regularly report activities and progress.

Benefits

Competitive base salary.
Incentive compensation, which may include profit-sharing schemes.
Retirement savings plan.
Ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
Paid time off, including personal time and holidays.
Paid parental leave program.
Medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), and supplemental insurance coverage.
Upskilling and development opportunities through the global Leadership University.
Unlimited access to more than 10,000 e-learning courses.
Opportunities for certifications, career-path development, accelerated development programs, and national and international mobility.