Embedded Software Engineer - Flight Stack

Knightwerx is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Embedded Software Engineer to develop, integrate, and optimize the flight control stack for a small unmanned electric aircraft. We balance innovation with reliability in a fast-paced environment. You’ll work closely with aeromechanical, avionics, and autonomy teams to deliver robust, safe, high-performance flight software from prototype through production.

Work Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience

5+ years professional experience developing embedded software for UAV flight-control or similar safety-critical systems

Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and test real-time embedded software for flight control and avionics

Hands-on experience with UAV autopilots (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot) and flight testing

Experience with international interoperability standards like STANAG 4586

Strong knowledge of MAVLink, RTPS and other UAV communication protocols.

Experience with uORB, FastDDS, or similar frameworks for real-time communications in UAV systems

Familiarity with mission planning, geospatial systems, and mapping software.

Attributes

Ability to work effectively in a team environment, collaborating with cross-functional teams and contributing to collective goals

Demonstrates a positive attitude towards feedback, actively seeking input from others to improve User Experience (UX)

Innovative, hands-on, and practical

Multi-disciplined, problem solver, driven by engineering analysis

Goal driven, learns from mistakes, and closes the loop on the design process

Primary Duties

Develop, integrate, and maintain real-time flight-control software for UAS

Implement control loops, state estimation, and sensor fusion for stable, precise flight

Integrate avionics hardware, navigation sensors, payload/power modules, and comms into the flight stack

Conduct SIL/HIL simulations and bench testing; validate flight performance and failsafes

Support flight tests: pre-flight checkout, in-flight telemetry monitoring, post-flight log analysis

Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, autonomy, and systems teams to tune performance

Maintain configuration management, version control, and documentation to safety/quality standards

Tasks

Implement and optimize flight-control/estimation algorithms for embedded targets

Develop and maintain features for mission planning, autopilot management, and vehicle control

Create intuitive and responsive user interfaces (UI) for controlling and monitoring UAVs

Implement and test new features based on user feedback and technological advancements

Ensure the software is scalable, maintainable, and efficient

Participate in the development and documentation of software design, code, debugging, troubleshooting, and test procedures

Skills

Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and practices in software development

Experience with version control systems (Git) and build tools (CMake)

Proficiency in programming languages such as C++, Python, and/or Rust

Familiarity with Qt, React, or similar frameworks for GUI development

Strong understanding of real-time communication protocols and back-end integration

Experience with RTOS (FreeRTOS, ChibiOS, NuttX, or similar), PX4/ArduPilot internals, messaging (uORB, MAVLink), and real-time middleware (RTPS/FastDDS)

Nice to have: awareness of STANAG 4586/interoperability concepts and airworthiness/safety practices, and experience with containerization and container management

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