Drone Systems Engineer

Be visionary

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets that require advanced technology and high reliability. These markets include aerospace and defense, factory automation, air and water quality environmental monitoring, electronics design and development, oceanographic research, deepwater oil and gas exploration and production, medical imaging and pharmaceutical research.​

We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the excitement of being on a team that wins.

Job Description

About Teledyne FLIR Defense:

Join Teledyne FLIR Defense, where we’re dedicated to safeguarding lives with cutting-edge sensing and threat detection technologies. Our arsenal includes advanced surveillance sensors, handheld devices, unmanned vehicles, lasers, and more solutions that increase operational effectiveness for warfighters, first responders, and search-and-rescue teams. We’re looking for passionate innovators eager to shape the future of the Defense industry. If you’re mission-driven to globally collaborate on life-saving solutions, we invite you to explore our current opportunities. 

#TeledyneFLIRDefenseJobs

Job Summary:

This is a key position supporting the Rogue 1 military drone system currently being evaluated by the US military under multiple programs. Rogue 1 is a next-generation, rapid employment, optionally-lethal vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) sUAS that equips small units with the ability to engage threats within and beyond the range and capabilities of existing organic weapon systems while minimizing collateral damage and maximizing standoff.

Description: https://www.flir.com/products/rogue-1/?vertical=uas&segment=uis

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v49r-65gC8&t=1s

The Drone Systems Engineer will focus on providing high-quality and efficient system solutions for small, unmanned aircraft and associated peripherals and accessories. This includes electro-mechanical solutions that span multiple software architectures and hardware platforms that are interconnected, including ST micro, Nvidia, Texas Instruments, bare metal, and embedded Linux. This position will require the ability to debug electrical and software elements of drone system as well as general robotic system troubleshooting. Prior drone development experience is strongly preferred including exposure to the Pixhawk autopilot, and mature robotic system troubleshooting skills are a requirement. The role also requires strong software development skills including basic algorithm and state machine implementation as well as control system tuning, sensor processing, and exposure to Kalman filters.   

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Design and conduct tests to evaluate concepts and theories associated with drone development.

• Trouble shoot and test drone systems – including one-off test development to root cause difficult system issues with software, electrical, and mechanical inter-dependencies. 

• Troubleshoot sensors and sub-systems associated with drone operation (GPS, IMU, range finders, radios, power supplies, etc.).

• Debugging and development of drone flight control and payload control systems – including gain tuning, sensor processing, and Kalman filtering.

• Development and enhancement of drone algorithms – including takeoff/landing sequences, failsafes, and highly dynamic vision guided flight.

• Work on projects in C, C++, and Python in a Linux-based development environment.

• Develop prototypes to explore new ideas and work in iterative development cycles.

• Debug basic electrical systems – read schematics, use electrical tools such as oscilloscope, logic analyzer, etc.

• Basic knowledge of RF systems (antennas, radios, coax, etc.).

Job Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field required.

• 5+ years’ or equivalent experience delivering commercial-grade software for embedded systems highly desired.

• 3+ years’ experience working with electro-mechanical systems with feedback and control systems highly desired.

• 2+ years’ experience working with commercial or military drones strongly preferred.

• Experience in board bring-up and peripheral integration highly desired.

• Familiarity with debugging electronic systems – reading schematics, oscilloscope use, etc.

• Familiarity with embedded system electronic communications: SPI, I2C, UARTS, etc. – on a software and electrical level.

• Expertise in C and/or C++ programming on embedded Linux, or similar systems required.

• Python, radio, networking and test development skills are assets.

• Strong preference to candidates with drone or RC hobby experience and interest.

Applicants must be either a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, legal permanent resident, asylee, refugee or must be eligible to apply for and obtain the appropriate export control license from the U.S. Departments of State or Commerce.

#FLIR

Teledyne and all of our employees are committed to conducting business with the highest ethical standards. We require all employees to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, rules and regulatory orders. Our reputation for honesty, integrity and high ethics is as important to us as our reputation for making innovative sensing solutions.

Teledyne is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other characteristic or non-merit based factor made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. ​