Forward Deployed Engineer

Posted 5 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
San Francisco, CA, USA
In-Office
Senior level
Aerospace
The Role
Develop, integrate, troubleshoot, and deploy autonomous drone systems across embedded software, cloud infrastructure, avionics, and flight operations. Build edge software and containerized services, integrate communication protocols and vehicle systems, conduct flight testing and field deployments, and support customer engagements. Translate mission requirements into technical solutions while collaborating across engineering, hardware, production, and operations teams. Travel is required for integration, testing, demonstrations, and customer deployments.
Summary Generated by Built In

As a Forward Deployed Engineer at Auterion, you will develop, integrate, and deploy Auterion-powered drone systems, working across embedded software, cloud infrastructure, avionics, and flight operations.

You’ll act as a technical interface for customers and partners, translating mission requirements into practical solutions using AuterionOS, Skynode, and PX4. This is a hands-on role involving software development, system integration, troubleshooting, and field testing.

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Develop and maintain edge software in C/C++ and Python on Linux-based platforms such as Jetson and Skynode.
  • Build containerized services using Docker and integrate edge systems with cloud infrastructure.
  • Implement reliable communication and data pipelines using REST, gRPC, MQTT, WebSockets, and MAVLink.
  • Manage firmware flashing, vehicle configuration, sensor calibration, system bring-up, and software releases.
  • Integrate and troubleshoot avionics, sensors, payloads, communications, and other vehicle systems.
  • Participate in flight testing, customer demonstrations, system validation, and field deployments.
  • Diagnose and resolve hardware, software, networking, and Linux integration issues.
  • Collaborate with hardware, firmware, cloud, production, operations, and QC teams.
  • Act as a technical lead in customer engagements and translate mission requirements into system solutions.
  • Contribute to CI/CD, testing, documentation, cybersecurity, and continuous engineering improvements.
  • Feed customer and field requirements back into product and engineering teams.
  • Travel as needed for integration, testing, and customer deployments.

Qualifications and Skills

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software, Electrical, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Aviation, or a related field.
  • 5+ years of software engineering experience, with strong C/C++ and Python skills on Linux.
  • Experience with embedded, edge, companion-computer, or IoT platforms.
  • Experience with PX4 or similar autopilot systems; MAVLink experience is a plus.
  • Understanding of networking and embedded protocols such as CAN, I2C, SPI, TCP/IP.
  • Experience with Docker, cloud APIs, distributed systems, and CI/CD.
  • Familiarity with UAV flight testing, avionics, flight control, and hardware/software integration.
  • Strong troubleshooting, communication, and customer-facing skills.
  • Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
  • Passion for drones and autonomous systems.
  • Willingness to travel.
  • U.S. citizenship required; eligibility for Secret clearance preferred.

Benefits 

  • Flexible working hours
  • Stock Options
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Health Insurance (includes dental & vision)
  • Medical flex spending
  • Life Insurance
  • Retirement Plan - 401k
  • Enhanced maternity & paternity leave
  • Learning and development opportunities

About Auterion

We are building the leading software platform for AI-powered autonomous systems for enterprise and government customers. Our team is supporting the most important missions and solving the most challenging problems.

At Auterion, we bring together the sharpest minds who love to solve the hardest problems. Join a vibrant team built on innovation, openness, and excellence, where you’ll be empowered to develop ideas, collaborate across all levels, and make an impact that matters.

Skills Required

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software, Electrical, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Aviation, or a related field
  • 5+ years of software engineering experience
  • Strong C/C++ and Python skills on Linux
  • Experience with embedded, edge, companion-computer, or IoT platforms
  • Experience with PX4 or similar autopilot systems
  • Understanding of CAN, I2C, SPI, and TCP/IP protocols
  • Experience with Docker, cloud APIs, distributed systems, and CI/CD
  • Familiarity with UAV flight testing, avionics, flight control, and hardware/software integration
  • Strong troubleshooting, communication, and customer-facing skills
  • Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, hands-on environment
  • Willingness to travel
  • U.S. citizenship
  • MAVLink experience
  • Eligibility for Secret clearance
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The Company
HQ: Zürich
73 Employees
Year Founded: 2017

What We Do

At Auterion we care about providing enterprise with an ecosystem of software-defined drones, payloads, and third party applications within a single easy to use platform based on open-source standards. We’re leaders in an open-source movement bigger than ourselves and we’ve been on the same mission for over a decade, since our co-founder Lorenz Meier created Pixhawk, MAVLink, QGC, and PX4 (the world’s most widely used open-source drone autopilot operating system). Our mission is to be the drone platform of choice for enterprise, government, and drone manufacturers while accelerating the drone industry by driving forward open standards to create a common, future-proof roadmap in a thriving, open ecosystem of buyers and vendors. At Auterion, we bring together the sharpest minds who love to solve the hardest problems. Join a vibrant team built on innovation, openness, and excellence, where you’ll be empowered to develop ideas, collaborate across all levels, and make an impact that matters.

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