ArduPilot Software Engineer

Put your ArduPilot expertise to work on tethered UAS platforms supporting real government and commercial missions as Hoverfly’s ArduPilot Software Engineer, where you'll develop, tune, and sustain ArduPilot-based flight control software on hardware that actually flies.

Why You Want This Job

• Your ArduPilot work goes beyond configuration — you'll modify and extend ArduPilot software directly for airframes and mission profiles most engineers never see
• Tethered UAS is a specialized domain with genuine defense applications; the depth you build here doesn't come from a general robotics or software job
• You'll close the loop yourself: write the code, run SITL, tune on the bench, and see it perform in flight test
• Small team means no bureaucracy between your pull request and the aircraft — your decisions have direct, visible impact on system performance
• Sanford, FL offers a strong quality-of-life advantage with no state income tax and proximity to Greater Orlando

What You'll Be Doing

• Developing, modifying, and maintaining ArduPilot flight control software for Hoverfly's tethered multi-rotor platforms
• Configuring, tuning, and troubleshooting vehicle parameters to optimize flight performance and operational reliability
• Analyzing flight logs and debugging system behavior across SITL simulation and real-world flight environments
• Integrating avionics components including sensors, GPS, radios, ESCs, and companion computers using MAVLink-based tooling
• Contributing to new autonomy, control, and payload capabilities aligned with the product roadmap

Why You'll Be Successful

• 5+ years of industry experience in robotics, aerospace, embedded systems, or unmanned systems
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with ArduPilot development, configuration, tuning, or integration on real hardware
• Strong C++ and/or C proficiency in embedded or real-time environments
• Experience with MAVLink, ground control station tools, and flight log analysis
• Comfortable working across SITL, bench test, and live flight environments

Position is onsite in Sanford, FL, with an amazing team and a laid-back environment.

Must be a "U.S. Person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 (U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee).