Robotics Software Engineer

About the Company

Pixels on Target builds high-performance thermal imaging systems that push the limits of what’s possible at the edge. We combine advanced sensing, embedded systems, and AI/ML to deliver real-time intelligence in the most constrained environments. Our focus is speed, performance, and delivering systems that work—reliably—when it matters most.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Robotics Software Engineer focused on autonomous drone systems and real-time edge intelligence. This role sits at the intersection of robotics, perception, autonomy, embedded systems, and AI/ML. You will design and develop autonomy software that enables UAV platforms to perceive, navigate, track, and make decisions in complex environments with minimal operator input. This is a highly hands-on engineering role where you will work across perception pipelines, sensor fusion, flight systems, and real-time compute constraints. Expect to work in a fast-moving environment with aggressive timelines, rapid iteration cycles, and evolving mission requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop autonomy software for UAV and robotic platforms.
• Build real-time perception, navigation, tracking, and decision-making systems for edge-deployed drones.
• Develop sensor fusion pipelines integrating thermal, EO/IR, IMU, GPS, LiDAR, and other onboard sensors.
• Implement and optimize SLAM, visual odometry, object detection, tracking, and path-planning algorithms.
• Develop robust autonomy behaviors including waypoint navigation, obstacle avoidance, target following, and autonomous mission execution.
• Integrate and develop MAVLink-based communication, telemetry, command, and control interfaces for UAV systems.
• Work with PX4, ArduPilot, and BetaFlight ecosystems to integrate autonomy capabilities with flight controllers and ground control systems.
• Integrate AI/ML models into embedded robotics systems under strict SWaP (size, weight, and power) constraints.
• Optimize software performance for real-time execution on embedded GPU and edge-compute platforms.
• Work closely with hardware, embedded, and perception teams to integrate autonomy capabilities into deployed systems.
• Build simulation and test environments for autonomy validation and rapid iteration.
• Support field testing, flight operations, debugging, and system bring-up.
• Develop tools for telemetry, diagnostics, replay, and autonomous mission analysis.
• Contribute to architecture decisions, software reliability, and deployment pipelines.
• Drive rapid prototyping and transition concepts into production-ready systems.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in robotics, autonomy, or UAV software engineering.
• Master’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, or related technical field.

Required Skills

• Strong C++ and Python programming skills.
• Experience with ROS/ROS2 and robotics middleware.
• Strong understanding of drone autonomy, navigation, and robotic perception systems.
• Hands-on experience with MAVLink protocol development, integration, and debugging.
• Experience with PX4, ArduPilot, MAVSDK, QGroundControl, or related UAV ecosystems.
• Experience with SLAM, sensor fusion, path planning, localization, or computer vision systems.
• Experience integrating AI/ML inference into robotics or embedded platforms.
• Experience with GPU-accelerated compute platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson or similar edge AI hardware.
• Strong debugging skills across software, hardware, and sensor interfaces.
• Experience working with real-world robotic systems and field deployments.
• Familiarity with simulation environments such as Gazebo, Isaac Sim, AirSim, or similar platforms.
• Understanding of real-time systems, embedded Linux, and performance optimization.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
• High ownership mindset with strong execution and problem-solving ability.
• Experience with defense, ISR, autonomous systems, or tactical robotics is a strong plus.

Eligibility Requirement

Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder).