UAV Flight Control Engineer- (PX4 / ArduPilot & Control Systems)

Santa Clara, CA | In-Person | Full-Time | Relocation not offered Reports to: Head of Robotics About HYFIX HYFIX is building pioneering Spatial AI and autonomous systems to shape the future of intelligent technology. We are a global, forward-thinking team solving complex engineering challenges and delivering innovative, real‑world autonomous solutions. Role Overview We are seeking a highly experienced Lead Embedded / Flight Control Engineer to own the architecture, performance, and reliability of our drone flight control systems. This is a hands‑on technical leadership role responsible for real‑time firmware, flight stabilization, sensor fusion, and full‑stack UAV integration. This role is focused specifically on flight control systems, control loop tuning, and autopilot frameworks (PX4/ArduPilot)—not general embedded development. Leadership & Ownership Serve as the technical authority for flight software Define architecture standards and embedded development workflows Mentor and grow embedded engineering talent Own system‑level reliability, safety, and flight performance This role defines the core intelligence that keeps our aircraft stable, responsive, and safe under real‑world operating conditions. What You Will Own Architecture and development of flight controller firmware Integration and customization of autopilot frameworks (PX4, ArduPilot) Real‑time control systems (RTOS or bare‑metal) Flight stabilization and PID control loop tuning Hardware bring‑up and board‑level debugging System‑level safety, redundancy, and failsafe logic Key Responsibilities Design, implement, and maintain high‑reliability embedded firmware in C/C++ Develop and tune attitude, rate, and position control loops Optimize deterministic timing performance in real‑time systems Collaborate closely with electrical and mechanical engineers on system integration Lead code reviews and establish embedded development best practices Support flight testing, log analysis, and performance optimization Drive root‑cause analysis for in‑flight anomalies Establish scalable firmware architecture from prototype through production What You Bring Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field 7+ years of embedded systems development experience 3+ years working on UAV, robotics, or real‑time control systems Strong proficiency in C/C++ Deep understanding of control theory and feedback systems Experience with real‑time operating systems Experience with CAN, SPI, I2C, UART communication buses Hardware‑level debugging (oscilloscope, logic analyzer) Preferred Qualifications Contributions to PX4 or ArduPilot codebases Experience with motor control and ESC integration Familiarity with MAVLink protocol Experience in safety‑critical systems Background in aerospace or advanced robotics Experience leading small engineering teams What Success Looks Like Stable, repeatable, high‑performance flight behavior Clean, maintainable firmware architecture Reduced flight‑test iteration cycles Clear documentation and scalable codebase Professional Development Assistance How to Apply We’d love to hear from you! Send your resume and a short cover letter to View email address on click.appcast.io #J-18808-Ljbffr HYFIX