Mid/Senior Embedded C/C++ Software Engineer

Hybrid working, 1 day in the office per week.

A rapidly expanding London-based UAV start-up is seeking a talented Embedded C/C++ Engineer to join its core engineering team. You’ll work on cutting-edge drone and autonomous aerial systems, contributing to next-generation platforms used across defence, security, and advanced robotics.

This is a hands-on role in a high-growth environment where your work directly shapes real hardware, real aircraft, and real missions. If you want to build systems that fly, think, and react — this is the place.

Applicants must be UK or EU nationals and eligible for security clearance.

About the Role

You’ll design, implement and optimise embedded software for UAV flight controllers, sensor integration, autonomy modules and real-time mission systems. Expect modern C/C++, low-level programming, hardware interaction, and involvement across the full development lifecycle — from prototype boards to production-ready aircraft.

This role suits engineers who thrive in fast-moving environments and want to work on serious, high-impact technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain embedded C/C++ software for UAV flight systems and onboard electronics.
• Integrate sensors, radios, autopilot modules, and mission-critical components.
• Work with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and bare-metal environments.
• Optimise performance, reliability and safety across flight-critical code.
• Collaborate with hardware, avionics and systems engineers to deliver robust airborne solutions.
• Support testing, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop and live flight trials.
• Contribute to documentation, design reviews and secure development practices.

Essential Qualifications

• Strong experience in embedded C/C++ development.
• Solid understanding of microcontrollers, low-level programming and hardware interfaces.
• Experience with RTOS, bare-metal systems or real-time embedded environments.
• Familiarity with communication protocols (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, DroneCAN).
• Ability to debug embedded systems using oscilloscopes, logic analysers and similar tools.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in fast-paced engineering teams.
• Must be a UK or EU national and eligible for security clearance.

Desirable Extras

• Experience with UAVs, drones, robotics or autonomous systems.
• Knowledge of PX4, ArduPilot or custom flight-control stacks.
• Understanding of sensor fusion, navigation, or control theory.
• Exposure to ARM-based architectures and embedded Linux.
• Interest in rapid prototyping, early-stage hardware design or avionics integration.