UAS Software Engineer

About the role

Tekever, an unmanned technology company based in Bristol, is looking for a UAS Software Engineer to develop and maintain software running onboard its aircraft. The role covers autopilots, the autonomy stack, payloads and other software-enabled subsystems, and involves building a deep understanding of the existing product base while helping shape new platform iterations and clean-sheet designs. It is a hybrid position within the R&D department.

Key responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate and debug software that runs onboard UAV platforms.
• Contribute to software roadmaps, derive features and own their implementation.
• Work internationally to maximise code-base commonality across current and future UAS.
• Deliver customer value quickly while balancing innovation with the formal engineering rigour required in the sector.
• Support field tests at one of the company's facilities, usually West Wales airport.

Required profile

• Degree in a technical discipline (Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering or similar) or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience in one or more embedded-focused languages such as C++ or Rust, including constrained subsets such as MISRA C++.
• Experience in UAS design, operation and test.
• Experience using AI coding tools such as Claude to speed up development.
• Eligible for and willing to undergo UK SC-level security clearance vetting due to defence contracts.
• Willingness to travel occasionally domestically and internationally to Tekever sites (UK, Portugal, US and wider Europe) and, on occasion, to deployed operations.

Required skills

• IP-based networking, PX4/ArduPilot/MAVLink, autonomy, real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS, ROS 2, Docker.
• Strong Linux skills, possibly with Yocto for customising new hardware platforms.
• Algorithmic development in autonomy, machine vision, guidance, control or sensor fusion.
• Test development including model, software and hardware-in-the-loop simulation.
• CI/CD with CMake and GitLab CI, and full SDLC experience.
• Defence or regulated industry experience, ideally to standards such as DO-178C.

What we offer

• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Pension with employer matching up to 10%.
• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays.
• Medical and dental insurance.
• Salary sacrifice schemes (EV scheme, cycle-to-work, tech scheme).
• Discretionary annual company bonus.