Senior Onboard Software Engineer

• We’re seeking a Senior Onboard Software Engineer to develop the software that runs on our aircraft and ground assets. Working primarily in modern C++ on embedded Linux, you’ll develop and harden the safety-critical subsystems that allow our drones to fly autonomous Beyond-Visual-Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) missions across varied environments, from open airspace to dense, urban areas
• This is a senior individual-contributor role with real ownership: you’ll own specific subsystems end-to-end, drive implementation through simulation and flight test, and partner with teams across the company to validate and support them in the field
• Own safety-critical onboard subsystems that enhance our UAS capabilities and safety mitigations
• Build the systems that allow aircraft to fly autonomously in demanding environments, including dense urban airspaces
• Deliver major customer-facing features on flight and ground assets, while balancing performance, safety, and reliability
• Drive software verification and release, from simulation and flight test to deployment across production fleets
• Provide senior technical support, triaging and solving field and flight-test issues
• Collaborate with stakeholders within Engineering, Operations, Safety, and Production
• In-person role based at Matternet Headquarters and access to our flight test facility

Preferred experience

• Experience with Python, YAML, and other scripting tools
• Solid applied math skills (geometry, coordinate transforms, kinematics) for navigation and avoidance
• Proficiency with version control and peer code review workflows (e.g. Git)
• Proven ability to implement and validate complex native systems and validate them in simulation and on hardware
• Strong Linux background and experience with cross-compiling
• Expertise in modern C++, multithreading, and algorithm design and optimization
• 5+ years of production software engineering, owning major subsystems end-to-end
• Excellent technical communication and strong cross-disciplinary teamwork in a fast-paced environment
• The ability to work and communicate efficiently online with a hybrid team is critical to success
• Computer vision and perception (OpenCV or similar) and sensor integration
• UAV, autonomous robotics, aerospace, or other safety-critical regulated experience
• Experience with distributed systems, networking and real-time messaging, and fleet management
• Experience with Docker, and containerized build, test, and development environments
• Familiarity with an autopilot stack such as ArduPilot or PX4
• Google Test framework
• Experience using AI coding assistants to accelerate development
• Relevant mechanical, aerospace, or electrical engineering experience