Applied Intuition
Software Engineer (Drone Stack)
About this role
Applied Intuition seeks a Software Engineer for their Drone Stack team to design and deploy autonomy systems on unmanned aerial vehicles, integrating hardware and software across embedded Linux platforms. You'll conduct system testing from simulation through live flight operations, working with defense customers and OEM partners to bring advanced autonomous capabilities to real aircraft.
What you'll do
- Build and deploy modular autonomy capabilities on embedded Linux platforms with sensor integration and data capture
- Integrate autonomy software with vehicle hardware including autopilots, datalinks, sensors, GPS/INS, and ground control stations
- Execute system bring-up, testing, and validation across SIL, HIL, and live flight testing for Group 1–5 UAVs
- Troubleshoot complex software and integration issues to maintain system performance and reliability
- Collaborate with DoD experts and third-party UAS vendors to integrate Applied's autonomy onto OEM aircraft
- Design service-oriented-architecture software and inter-process messaging frameworks for autonomous systems
What they're looking for
- Modern C++ (C++11/17/20)
- Linux (Ubuntu, RHEL) and containerized deployment with Docker
- Pixhawk-family autopilots (ArduPilot, PX4)
- Communication protocols (UART, RS232/422/485, SPI, I2C, Ethernet)
- Software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing
- Git/GitLab version control and development tools
- Bash scripting and CMake
- Real-time and safety-critical systems development
Benefits
- Base salary plus equity (options and/or RSUs)
- Comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
- 401k retirement with employer match
- Learning and wellness stipends
- Paid time off
- In-office environment with flexibility for occasional remote work
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Applied Intuition
Applied Intuition builds autonomous vehicle and defense systems software, including motion planning algorithms, simulation infrastructure, and autonomy integration platforms for aerial and ground platforms. The company is hiring for security engineers, robotics/autonomy software engineers, hardware-in-the-loop specialists, and IT operations professionals to support its growing physical AI operations.
- Website
- appliedintuition.com
Likely interview questions
- Walk us through a specific hardware-software integration project where you brought an autonomy stack to a real vehicle platform—what were the main challenges and how did you solve them?
- Describe your hands-on experience with Pixhawk autopilots (ArduPilot and/or PX4). What communication protocols did you use to interface with sensors and actuators?