Drone Stack - Hardware Engineer

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positions

About the Role

As a Senior Robotics Hardware Engineer at Applied Intuition, you will serve as the primary technical link between hardware design, GNC, and software teams to deliver integrated, flight-ready systems. You will lead the critical hardware-software bring-up process, driving initial validation of flight systems from the bench to the airfield while defining seamless communication interfaces across flight controllers and ground stations. In this role, you will architect repeatable verification workflows and high-fidelity simulation environments, including Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), to enable rapid iteration and reduce development cycle times. By setting standards for hardware abstraction and building custom real-time monitoring tools, you will ensure the delivery of robust, scalable, and maintainable flight software for next-generation autonomous machines

At Applied Intuition, you will:

• Lead the hardware-software bring-up process, driving initial integration and validation of flight systems from the bench to the airfield.

• Deliver integrated, flight-ready systems by bridging the gap between autopilot firmware, onboard compute, and peripheral vehicle hardware.

• Define and control system interfaces across flight controllers, payloads, and ground stations to ensure seamless communication and data integrity.

• Make critical system-level tradeoffs between embedded software performance, autonomy requirements, and physical hardware constraints.

• Design and scale automated test frameworks, including high-fidelity Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) environments with realistic sensor and vehicle simulation.

• Architect repeatable verification workflows that enable rapid iteration and reduce the cycle time from code change to validated flight behavior.

• Build custom tooling for real-time monitoring and post-flight analysis to convert complex test data into actionable system improvements.

• Serve as the technical authority for integration and verification, acting as the primary link between hardware design, GNC, and software teams.

• Support flight test campaigns as a hands-on technical lead, troubleshooting integration issues and ensuring mission success.

• Set the standards for design patterns and hardware abstraction to ensure robust, scalable, and maintainable flight software.

We're looking for someone who has:

• Degree: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.

• At least 5 years of experience in robotics hardware integration, embedded systems, or aerospace engineering.

• Deep expertise in vehicle electronics integration, specifically bridging autopilot firmware (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot) with onboard compute (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson, Raspberry Pi) and peripheral sensors.

• Strong proficiency in C++ and Python, with experience writing hardware abstraction layers or drivers for real-time systems.

• Hands-on experience with communication protocols such as CAN, UART, I2C, SPI, and MAVLink.

• Proven track record of building and scaling simulation environments, specifically Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing for autonomous vehicles or drones.

• Demonstrated ability to lead system-level bring-up, moving complex robotics platforms from initial bench-top prototyping to successful field or flight operations.

• Excellent troubleshooting skills and a collaborative mindset, with the ability to act as the technical "glue" between GNC, software, and mechanical teams.

Security Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen

• Must hold or be eligible for a U.S. Secret security clearance

For more information about U.S. security clearances: click here.

Nice to have:

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

• Hands-on experience with R/C systems, drone assembly, or flight operations.

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.

FOR US-BASED ROLES: Applied Intuition is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and interview experience to applicants who are disabled veterans and other applicants with disabilities or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations are available, requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy in any way, and you are not required to disclose the nature of your disability or medical condition in order to make a request.
If you require an accommodation please contact [email protected]. We will work with you!