Software Engineer, Robotics
WFA Digital Insight
Swarm Aero is tackling a uniquely complex problem: the software that pilots thousands of autonomous drones working together. The robotics engineer role goes beyond typical embedded work, requiring contributions across the entire autonomy stack—from low‑level vehicle code to high‑level behavior planning and realistic simulation. Candidates will be part of a team that has already shipped multiple aerospace startups and negotiated multi‑billion‑dollar defense contracts, meaning the code they write directly influences national‑scale missions. Expect hands‑on electronics prototyping, deep interaction with sensor payloads, and frequent travel for test events, all while writing clean, testable C/C++ or Rust that can run on edge hardware.
Job Description
Swarm Aero is redefining air power, building the largest swarming UAV and the most versatile swarming aircraft network in the world. The company is moving quickly to launch the first aircraft designed specifically for swarming, as well as the Command & Control software to mobilize swarms of thousands of heterogeneous autonomous assets and empower human operators to achieve superhuman results. The team has created and exited multiple startups, negotiated defense deals worth billions of dollars, and designed and built 30+ novel aircraft, with aerospace experience from Scaled Composites, Airbus, Archer Aviation, Blue Origin, and Boom Supersonic. About the Role We're looking for Software Engineers, Robotics to build the components that make up the autonomy stack for the largest drone swarm in the world. You'll work across the stack, from vehicle software and sensor integration to planning behaviors and simulation, building the pieces that turn architecture into flying capability. What You'll Do - Build components across the autonomy stack: planning behaviors, vehicle software, sensor and payload integration, and simulation.
- Build the core on-vehicle software platform to allow integration of a variety of first and third-party sensors, payloads, and software modules.
- Create and validate physically realistic simulations of UxS.
- Perform electronics prototyping including troubleshooting complex mixed hardware-software systems.
- Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code.
- Travel up to 25% of the time for onsite test and integration events.
- 3+ years building soft-realtime embedded systems or robotics software.
- Deep expertise in at least one systems language (C/C++, Rust, or Go).
- Hands-on experience implementing robotics algorithms (path planning, state estimation, behavior trees, etc.).
- Working knowledge of embedded systems (SPI/I2C/serial protocols, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, microcontroller programming).
- Strong networking fundamentals (NAT, mDNS, UDP/TCP, multicast, firewall configuration).
- Excellent software engineering practices with emphasis on testable, reliable code.
- Experience with robotics middleware (DDS/ROS2, ZeroMQ, gRPC) and serialization formats (Protobuf).
- Hands-on electronics skills (breadboarding, soldering, schematic interpretation, datasheet analysis).
- Familiarity with government UxS interoperability standards (OMS/UCI, STANAG 4586, FACE).
How to Stand Out
- Highlight any projects that involved real‑time sensor fusion or autonomous vehicle control; include code samples or repositories.
- Be prepared to discuss low‑level debugging experiences, especially with oscilloscopes or logic analyzers.
- Showcase proficiency in C++, Rust, or Go with concrete examples of performance‑critical modules you’ve written.
- When interviewing, expect a deep dive into networking concepts like multicast and NAT as they relate to swarm communication.
- Emphasize any experience with ROS2, DDS, or similar middleware, even if only in academic or hobbyist projects.
- Negotiate equity by asking about the company’s vesting schedule and potential liquidity events.
- Watch for red flags such as vague descriptions of travel expectations or unclear ownership of intellectual property.
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