Forward Deployed Engineer

About the role

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