Embedded / Firmware Engineer – UAV Systems – Remote

We are supporting a rapidly growing engineering company working on cutting-edge UAV technology, as they scale their team to support a major EU defence programme.

This is a hands-on role focused on developing and optimising software deployed onto drone platforms, operating in highly constrained, real-world environments.

You’ll be working across embedded systems and application layers, contributing to real-time, cyber-physical systems that directly interact with hardware.

The Role:

• Develop embedded Linux applications for UAV platforms

• Optimise software for constrained environments (low memory / bandwidth)

• Work on multi-core embedded systems (e.g. 4-core CPUs)

• Build and maintain real-time systems (feedback loops, controllers)

• Contribute across the full stack – from bare metal through to application layer

• Support system integration, testing, and performance tuning

Skills & Experience:

Essential:

• Strong experience with embedded Linux

• Proficiency in C++ (Rust also of interest)

• Experience working across firmware to application layer

• Solid understanding of:

  • Memory management

  • Efficient data structures

  • Performance optimisation

• Experience working in real-time or hardware-interfacing systems

Desirable:

• Experience with ArduPilot or Betaflight

• Background in:

  • Defence systems (flight control, missiles, radar, EO systems)

  • Aerospace or automotive engineering

  • Machine vision / sensor integration

• Strong systems thinking (test, integration, end-to-end systems)

• Exposure to Rust

Additional Information:

• Remote-based with ~1 week/month onsite in Estonia

• Salary up to ~£100,000

• Must be eligible for SC clearance (5 years in a NATO country)

• Open to contractors short-term, but preference for permanent hires