Senior Robotic Engineer - UAV (w/m/d)
Based in the EU. Working in remote setups. Grounded in reality.
20.04.2026 Job-Nr.: 216418
You are joining an international deep-tech startup working on advanced drone technology.
The founding context is shaped by real-world urgency -- the defence relevance is not theoretical, and the technology is needed today.
The company operates precisely at the intersection of: r esearch | real-world application | go-to-market execution
This is a setup for engineers who:
- are comfortable operating under uncertainty
- take ownership and drive things forward
- understand that technology only matters when it performs outside controlled environments
You should therefore ask yourself honestly:
Do I want the technology I build to be used in a dual-use context, including defence applications?
Salzburg, München, Klagenfurt, Österreich, EU, Europa
Software Development
RESPONSIBILITIES
- A core part of your work is the analysis of real drone flights
- When you implement a change, it is deployed to the system, tested in real-world conditions, and you verify whether it performs reliably outside of ideal scenarios.
Examples:
- If a drone deviates from its trajectory after a 20 km flight, you dive into the logs, reconstruct the flight path, and identify whether the root cause lies in sensor errors, synchronization issues, or the underlying mathematical model
- If communication between components is unreliable, you analyze data flows between the onboard computer (e.g. Raspberry Pi) and the flight controller, ensuring that all systems operate consistently
- If visual odometry (camera-based motion estimation) degrades during aggressive maneuvers, you investigate whether the issue stems from vibration (noisy IMU data), poor synchronization between camera and IMU, or an inadequate motion model
SKILLSET
- You have a strong academic background (bachelor/master), typically in robotics, computer science, technical physics, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline
- You bring at least 3 years of experience in robotics or autonomous systems (e.g. UAVs), including hands-on work with technologies such as ROS/ROS2, Visual-Inertial Odometry, or navigation stacks - ideally in drone-related projects
- You have experience in sensor fusion and localization, for example working with Kalman filters, IMU data, GNSS/GPS, camera, or LiDAR data in real-world applications
- You are proficient in embedded software development, with C++ skills and Linux-based environments, as well as experience using Python for data analysis
- You possess solid mathematical foundation and are able to reason about models and uncertainty in complex systems
- You are fluent in English and comfortable collaborating in an international team; knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian is a plus
WHAT YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO
- Startup character, but financially secured for the coming years, supported in part by Austrian funding programs and investors
- You can work from anywhere; meetings for technical exchange are held remotely
- You will join a genuinely supportive and kind team -- a place where different life realities are understood and respected
- At the same time, the team works hard because it knows what it is building for: a strong mix of Silicon Valley mindset and pragmatism
Additional
- If a specific job title is important to you, that can be aligned - what matters more is the output
- Compensation is open for discussion; while this is a startup, salary is not just base pay -- let's discuss overall packages and individual needs openly
BENEFITS
- COACHING
- DU-CULTURE
- FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS
- HOMEOFFICE
- LAPTOP FOR PRIVATE USE
- MOBILE PHONE FOR PRIVATE USE
- WORKATION
SALARY RANGE
Gehaltsspanne Minimum 4600, Maximum 6000
MINIMUM SALARY
EUR 4600 gross / month (on a full-time basis)
YOUR POSSIBLE SALERY
The salary is between EUR 4600 and EUR 6000 gross / month (on a full-time basis), depending on qualifications and professional experience.
SOUNDS INTERESTING?
APPLY NOW and find out more about the position! If you have any questions in advance, Verena Herrmann v.herrmann@kern-partner.at looks forward to hearing from you.