About the Role Phoqtek Labs is seeking an exceptional Drone Systems Engineer who possesses deep expertise across both aerial hardware design and autonomous navigation software .
The candidate will be responsible for the design, integration, and deployment of next-generation drones equipped with Visual Navigation Systems (VNS) , capable of GPS-denied operation and AI-assisted autonomy .
This is not a plug-and-play assembly role you will architect the entire system stack , from sensor fusion and flight control integration to real-time perception and control systems optimized on edge devices like NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano/Xavier .
Key Responsibilities Hardware Design & Integration - Design, assemble, and optimize multi-rotor and fixed-wing drones , including frame selection, motor & ESC configuration, propeller dynamics, and payload balancing.
- Integrate onboard compute modules (Jetson Orin, Raspberry Pi, etc.) with PX4 or ArduPilot flight controllers (CubePilot Orange+, Pixhawk 6X, etc.).
- Develop and test power distribution systems , LiPo battery configurations , and telemetry setups (SiK, 433/915 MHz, etc.).
- Work on thermal management , vibration isolation , and EMI mitigation to ensure high sensor accuracy.
Software & Autonomy Stack - Develop and tune Visual Navigation Systems (VNS) including:
- Visual-Inertial Odometry (VIO)
- Visual SLAM (Kimera, ORB-SLAM3, VINS-Fusion)
- Depth-based obstacle avoidance
- Implement and optimize sensor fusion pipelines (IMU + Vision + GPS + LiDAR) using ROS/ROS2 .
- Work on autonomous path planning , mission control , and failsafe behaviors .
- Deploy real-time inference pipelines for onboard AI (object detection, terrain mapping, human/vehicle tracking).
- Integrate MAVLink protocols for communication between companion computers and flight controllers.
Systems Engineering & Testing - Calibrate and validate sensors (IMU, magnetometer, barometer, GPS, and camera extrinsics).
- Conduct ground and flight tests to evaluate stability, control loops, and navigation accuracy.
- Analyze flight logs using QGroundControl , Mission Planner , or MAVLink tools for debugging and optimization.
- Manage version-controlled firmware and ROS packages using Git and CI/CD pipelines.
Edge & Cloud Deployment - Implement real-time video streaming , telemetry dashboards , and remote monitoring over 4G/5G or Wi-Fi.
- Optimize low-latency data pipelines using CUDA , TensorRT , and GStreamer .
- Collaborate with AI/ML engineers for data collection, annotation, and retraining pipelines for perception and mapping models.
Required Skills & Experience - 1–2 years of hands-on experience in UAV system development (hardware + software).
- Proven integration experience with PX4 or ArduPilot flight stacks.
- Strong programming skills in C++ and Python for robotics and embedded control.
- Deep understanding of ROS/ROS2 , MAVROS , and sensor fusion algorithms .
- Hands-on experience with NVIDIA Jetson devices (Jetson Orin/Xavier/Nano).
- Experience with stereo/depth cameras such as Intel RealSense D455 , ZED , or Luxonis OAK-D .
- Knowledge of SLAM/VIO algorithms , sensor calibration , and 3D reconstruction .
- Familiarity with PCB design , power electronics , and embedded microcontrollers (STM32, ESP32).
- Strong background in control systems , flight dynamics , and PID tuning .
- DGCA-certified drone pilot license (preferred) — ideal for candidates capable of manual flight testing and maneuver validation.
Preferred Skills - Experience with Isaac ROS Visual SLAM , Kimera-VIO , or RTAB-Map .
- Exposure to LiDAR integration and point cloud processing (PCL, Open3D).
- Proficiency in Docker for containerized robotics deployments.
- Understanding of computer vision (OpenCV) and deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow).
- Knowledge of geospatial datasets , DGCA/IN-SPACe regulations , and BVLOS operational standards .
Education - Bachelor’s or Master’s in Robotics , Mechatronics , Aerospace Engineering or Embedded Systems .
- Publications, research projects, or open-source contributions in drone autonomy , SLAM , or VIO are highly desirable.
What We Offer - Work at the intersection of AI, photonics, and autonomous UAVs .
- End-to-end ownership in drone R&D , from prototype to field deployment.
- Access to Phoqtek Labs’ GPU and simulation infrastructure for testing and AI workloads.
- Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge aerial autonomy research .
- Competitive startup compensation with growth.