Full-Time
Technical Program Manager
Auterion
51-200 employees
Open-source drone software for fleet management
No salary listed
Arlington, VA, USA
In Person
 Business & Strategy (1) |
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- MSc, MEng or MBA with strong technical background in autonomous robotic systems
- 5+ years experience in defense, aerospace or related industries
- Experience and/or willing to work in a start-up environment
- Experience in managing portfolios of medium to large sized projects consisting of solution engineering, HW-/SW delivery, customization and integration content
- Competence in methodologies and tools for (agile) project planning and scheduling contract- and risk management
- Experience in RFI / RFP processes and respective customer offers and proposals
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- Strongly customer orientated and performance driven
- Manage a portfolio of medium to large customer programs focused on autonomous robotic systems, from contract award through delivery and sustainment.
- Lead cross-functional teams across engineering, integration, manufacturing, and testing to deliver complex HW/SW systems on time and within budget.
- Develop and maintain detailed project plans, schedules, budgets, and risk registers using agile and traditional PM methodologies.
- Coordinate with internal teams, OEM partners, and customers to align program goals, resolve issues, and ensure high-quality outcomes.
- Oversee program financials including cost estimation, budgeting, forecasting, and tracking of financial performance.
- Support proposal responses to customer RFIs and RFPs, ensuring technical accuracy, strategic alignment, and competitive positioning.
- Ensure compliance with defense and aerospace standards, including export controls and cybersecurity requirements.
- Drive continuous improvement and contribute to the product and technology roadmap with feedback from program execution.
- Support logistics planning for hardware deliveries, field trials, and system deployments
Auterion provides a software platform to power and manage autonomous drone fleets. It combines open-source components (like AuterionOS, Auterion Suite, Auterion Mission Control, and Auterion Skynode X) to let users control multiple drones from a single interface, visualize and process data in real time, and automate workflows. The platform is designed for drone manufacturers, enterprises, and developers who need scalable, integrated fleet management for use cases such as mapping, delivery, and surveillance. Auterion differentiates itself by relying on open-source software, contributing to PX4 and Pixhawk, and forming partnerships to add features (e.g., 5G and AI) to its stack. The company’s goal is to enable efficient, scalable autonomous drone operations across industries by fostering an open ecosystem and providing comprehensive fleet management tools.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Late Stage VC
Total Funding
$183M
Headquarters
Arlington, Virginia
Founded
2017
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Rheinmetall-led $130M Series C achieves $1B+ unicorn valuation for expansion.
- Airlogix JV produces thousands of AI drones in Germany starting 2026.
- $50M Pentagon contract supplies 33,000 Skynode modules for Ukraine.
What critics are saying
- Rheinmetall prioritizes proprietary platforms, fragments Auterion's ecosystem.
- Helsing, Stark displace Auterion in German MoD contracts with Vertus, HX-2.
- Ukraine ceasefire eliminates 40-60% revenue from defense contracts.
What makes Auterion unique
- AuterionOS powers open-source PX4/Pixhawk for vendor-independent drone fleets.
- Skynode enables GNSS-denied TigerShark drone with 1000km range, 300kg payload.
- Suite unifies multi-drone operations via single interface for enterprises, DoD.
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Benefits
401(k) with company matching
Medical, dental & vision
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -3%1 year growth
↓ -7%2 year growth
↓ -6%TigerShark drone with a range of 1000 km and a load of up to 300 kg tested in Europe. British MGI Engineering Ltd (MGI) together with software developer Auterion has tested the TigerShark strike drone with a range of over 1,000 km. This was reported by Auterion. The company noted that this is the first time in over a decade that Europe has successfully tested a new system of this class, capable of reaching speeds of up to 750 km/h, operating effectively in the absence of GNSS (navigation satellite systems), carrying 300 kg and hitting targets at a distance of over 1,000 km. The platform has an open software-defined architecture, which allows for faster system deployment, upgrade of capabilities, and integration into various mission types. "Partnering with Auterion has allowed us to integrate world-class autonomous capabilities into a system designed from the ground up for flexibility and future growth," said MGI CEO Mike Gascoyne. Auterion emphasizes that TigerShark opens a new stage in the development of autonomous systems in Europe. "...we are enabling a new class of autonomous systems that can evolve at the pace of software," said James East, head of Auterion in the UK. Auterion says the TigerShark platform is designed to perform a variety of tasks from defense and security operations to complex autonomous missions, with an emphasis on flexibility and easy integration. It is also compatible with third-party hardware and software, giving operators more options for configuration and management. The image released before the release indicates that the TigerShark platform is powered by the Auterion Skynode solution. According to the manufacturer's website, the system is an on-board computer and autopilot that provides autonomous drone control, data processing and guidance, supports computer vision and allows missions to be carried out even in conditions of communication or satellite navigation jamming. It was previously reported that German Auterion, which develops software for autonomous drones, and Ukrainian drone manufacturer Airlogix announced the creation of a joint venture to produce AI-guided drones for Ukraine and its allies. Defense also wrote that last July, Auterion had a $50 million contract with the Pentagon to supply Ukraine with 33,000 Skynode AI modules for attack drones.
Weekly digest: Auterion raising $200M at $1.2B valuation, Uforce's unicorn debut, and Anthropic's pentagon standoff. Issue 61: Auterion prepares a major fundraise, Uforce is out of stealth, and what Anthropic's clash with Washington means for AI defence tech; plus more speakers for Resilience Conference Warsaw. Good afternoon from the team at Resilience Media Drones that cost $25,000 should not be shot down with $1M Tomahawk missiles. This is the lesson from Ukraine, and is now what we're seeing as the US-Israeli assault on Iran continues. In modern warfare, startup technology is the equaliser. Should the Straight of Hormuz be patrolled by hugely expensive warships to protect shipping from drone attacks? The display of Western military might in Iran just shows Russia how vulnerable NATO is against the technological and manufacturing lessons it has learned in Ukraine. The countries dragged into war in the Middle East are all turning to Ukraine for help in defending against the Shaheds that have rained down in Kyiv every night for years. Future wars will be tech wars. This is reflected in the investment pouring into defence tech startups, which is covered in our Deals section below. After breaking the news that Frankenburg Technologies was raising, we have a scoop about drone swarm company, Auterion. The company led by Lorenz Meier is said to be raising its Series C soon, valuing it at $1B, even as it has cash in the bank and contracts in the bag. Read an excerpt from Ingrid Lunden's piece below. More in Deals: Uforce is out of stealth and into the unicorn club, seeing Lakestar, Shield Capital, and Ballistic Capital in the round. Got a tip about upcoming investment? Send it our way. As governments navigate their relationships with frontier technology companies, things can get ugly. Reporter Carly Page and Ingrid Lunden analyse what the Department of Defense, Anthropic, and OpenAI debacle means for AI startups, governments, and contracts. You can read an excerpt in the Analysis section below. Elsewhere on Resilience Media: Resilience Conference Warsaw. We are thrilled to announce another round of speakers for Resilience Conference Warsaw: Former Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, General Rajmund T. Andrzejczak; OTB Ventures Partner, Marcin Hejka; TYTAN Technologies Co-Founder & CEO, Balázs Nagy; and PFR Ventures Board Member Rozalia Urbanek. Tickets are already going fast, so get yours today before Early Bird prices end. I'll be back in your inboxes next week. Thanks for reading. -Leslie Hitchcock, co-founder and Publisher, Resilience Media Auterion, the drone software startup, eyes raising $200M at a $1.2B+ valuation. Ingrid Lunden, Managing Editor German defence tech startups are seeing a lot of activity at the moment, and one of them is using that momentum to raise funds. Resilience Media has learned from multiple sources that Auterion - the startup co-headquartered in Munich and Arlington, VA that builds software systems for kinetic and other autonomous drones - is profitable and is looking at raising $200 million at a valuation of more than $1.2 billion to continue growing its business. The defence technology market is very heated at the moment globally, with the war in Ukraine lighting a fire of activity across Europe in particular. That is leading to some major contracts such as the deals that Stark and Helsing are securing with the German government, as well as fundraising activity, with some $8.7 billion raised by European defence and resilience tech startups in 2025. Multiple sources said that Auterion's fundraise would likely come out of inbound interest, similar to its last round, based on the fact that it is seeing a lot of business traction. "They are really humming right now," said one source close to the company. The timeframe for fundraising is not specific but is understood to be within this year. We understand that Auterion is already profitable and is currently on track to double revenues based on signed contracts this year to $200 million - the same as what they are looking to raise. A spokesperson for Auterion responded to a request for comment to say that "in light of the success of the development and growth of the business there has been increased interest from potential and new investors." He added that it is "not fundraising at the moment." This lines up with what our sources said. Anthropic, OpenAI, and the new rules of defence AI. Carly Page, Reporter and Ingrid Lunden, Managing Editor Anthropic is facing the prospect of being frozen out of US government work after refusing to relax safeguards on how its AI can be used by the newly rebranded Department of War - a clash that has bigger ramifications for it, OpenAI and other foundational model companies globally as AI becomes more pervasive on the modern battlefield. The dispute, which escalated publicly last week, centres on Anthropic's refusal to amend contract language to allow what the DoW describes as "any lawful purpose" use of its models. The company says its Claude system is already deployed inside classified government networks, supporting intelligence analysis, operational planning, and cyber tasks. But what it will not do, Anthropic said, is strip out protections that prohibit using Claude for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons. Not content with arch-rival Anthropic basking in ethical sunlight, OpenAI wasted no time wading into the story. Before we go any further, it's important to note that the standoff is largely theoretical at this point. The contract would be a framework for future services, and we have seen how even some of the biggest IT deals, covering far more mature technology than AI, can get scrapped and never make it out of the negotiating room. Still, the conversations have implications and highlight some of the tensions inherent in how AI and defence intersect - which they are doing more and more everyday. And so, the story is already reverberating beyond Washington.
Auterion and Airlogix partner to scale autonomous drone production. German drone software provider Auterion and Ukrainian defense company Airlogix have formed a joint venture to produce AI-guided unmanned aerial systems for Ukraine and allied nations. The announcement, made during the Munich Security Conference, marks one of the largest European initiatives in autonomous drone production for Ukrainian defense. The governments of Germany and Ukraine both endorsed the cooperation. Ukraine has already requested thousands of these mid-range autonomous strike drones, built in Germany, for its armed forces. The same systems will also meet munitions procurement requirements for German forces. Combining combat expertise and AI autonomy. The joint venture integrates Airlogix's battle-tested UAV platforms with Auterion's advanced software for autonomous navigation, AI guidance, and electronic warfare resistance. Together, the companies will produce drones engineered for resilience in demanding operational environments while maintaining compliance with NATO standards. "This joint venture demonstrates how European defense cooperation can rapidly deliver cutting-edge autonomous capabilities to our allies," said Dr. Lorenz Meier, CEO of Auterion. "By combining Ukrainian innovation forged in real combat conditions with our advanced engineering excellence, we are creating a new model for allied defense production." Vitalii Kolesnichenko, CEO of Airlogix, added, "This partnership allows us to scale that experience through European industrial capacity while integrating the most advanced autonomous systems available. Together, we are building the future of allied drone warfare." Building Europe's defense manufacturing network. The company, Auterion Airlogix Joint Venture GmbH, was established in cooperation with both governments as part of a broader effort to strengthen European defense industrial capabilities. Manufacturing will take place in Germany to ensure supply chain security, industrial scalability, and rapid delivery to frontline units. Initial production is scheduled for 2026, representing a new step in coordinated NATO-aligned UAV manufacturing within Europe. This agreement follows a similar partnership, also recently announced, between Ukrainian company TAF and German drone manufacturer Wingcopter. More information on Auterion is available from their website. More information on Airlogix is available from their website.
Auterion and Airlogix launch Joint Venture to scale autonomous drone production. 16.02.2026 Auterion, the global leader in autonomous drone operating systems, and Airlogix, a Ukrainian defense technology company, announced during the Munich Security Conference the formation of a joint venture to manufacture AI-guided unmanned aerial systems for Ukraine and allied nations. The Ukrainian government has requested thousands of the German-manufactured systems from the joint venture and is committed to a long-term partnership with the German Federal Ministry of Defence for the delivery of thousands of autonomous strike systems to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This marks one of the largest European commitments to drone production for Ukraine to date. The systems fulfil the requirements for the procurement of munitions for German forces as well. The partnership represents a first-of-its-kind integration of Ukrainian combat expertise with NATO-standard autonomous software and European manufacturing capacity. The joint venture combines Airlogix's battle-tested UAV platforms with Auterion's industry-leading AI guidance, autonomous navigation, and electronic warfare resilience software. "This joint venture demonstrates how European defense cooperation can rapidly deliver cutting-edge autonomous capabilities to our allies," said Dr. Lorenz Meier, CEO of Auterion. "By combining Ukrainian innovation forged in real combat conditions with our advanced engineering excellence, we are creating a new model for allied defense production." "Ukrainian companies have developed unique expertise through years of combat operations," said Vitalii Kolesnichenko, CEO of Airlogix. "This partnership allows us to scale that experience through European industrial capacity while integrating the most advanced autonomous systems available. Together, we are building the future of allied drone warfare." The Auterion Airlogix Joint Venture GmbH company was established with the support of both the German and Ukrainian governments as part of broader efforts to strengthen European defense industrial cooperation and ensure sustained support for Ukraine's defense capabilities. Production will take place in Germany, ensuring supply chain resilience and enabling rapid scaling to meet operational demands. Initial deliveries are planned for 2026.
Ukraine war: Auterion and Airlogix partner for mass production of autonomous drones. Auterion and Airlogix have announced a joint venture to produce thousands of autonomous strike drones for Ukraine. The venture aims to bolster the Ukrainian Armed Forces and support broader NATO defence efforts, adding to the other initiatives in this field. By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on February 13, 2026. Auterion and Airlogix announced a new joint venture on 13 February 2026 during the Munich Security Conference in Germany. This initiative aims to manufacture AI-guided unmanned aerial systems for Ukraine and allied nations. The Ukrainian government has already requested thousands of these systems from the new entity, according to the press release. The press release states that this deal represents one of the largest European commitments to drone production for Ukraine to date. It is not exactly clear what this means, as tens of thousands of drones have been procured through the Drone Capability Coalition. An order for 30,000 FPVs was signed in January 2025, for example, and 85,000 drones had been delivered by October of that year. At the same time, an additional order for 35,000 interceptor drones was anticipated in the near future. Moving past that, the press release explains that the partnership integrates Ukrainian combat expertise with NATO-standard autonomous software and European manufacturing capacity. Specifically, it will use Airlogix drones and Auterion AI-enabled guidance packages. This includes AI guidance, autonomous navigation, and electronic warfare resilience. Production will take place in Germany to ensure supply chain resilience, as well as rapid scaling to meet urgent operational demands. Initial deliveries are scheduled to begin within 2026. Scaling autonomous drones in Europe. The press release notes that this collaboration will also be able to fulfil the procurement requirements for the German Armed Forces. Therefore, the venture serves the strategic needs of both nations simultaneously. Of course this JV is not the only partnership in the field of drone procurement for Ukraine. Helsing and Stark have both developed strike systems with varying degrees of autonomy. The German MoD has placed contracts for their systems, HX-2 and Vertus respectively, both for its own assessments and to support Ukraine. The Auterion and Airlogix drones will join a growing number of systems with increasing levels of autonomy in Europe. This should mean that armed forces will have an array of drones to choose from when equipping themselves for future operations. Indeed, the experience gained from equipping Ukraine is understood to be guiding some procurement. Certain defence ministries are quite well aware of what is working against Russian jamming and what is not, for example. Calibre comment: combat drives adaptation. There is a drive amongst western militaries to innovate. 'Innovation wins wars,' is the essence of what some people proclaim. But the curious thing about innovation is that it has different interpretations depending on who you are. It could be argued that the current situation in Ukraine is very unique and specific to that war, and the way it has been conducted. A war between NATO and Russia would be very different. So, innovating with current systems to mimic or build upon what is happening in Ukraine might mean that NATO soldiers go to war with systems that aren't fit for what they face. It stands to reason that moderate innovation and exploration is a sensible approach. This might mean using defence science organisations to explore new concepts and stress test them, whilst doubling down on what works. Another approach is to extract themes and trends from a conflict and apply them to one's own situation. For instance, it is reasonably certain that Russia will maintain its edge in the electronic warfare that makes autonomous drones necessary in Ukraine. Because of this, NATO can develop its own autonomous systems confident that they will provide value if war ever comes. If you would like to know more about battlefield autonomy and support Calibre Defence, please do check out the links below: The lead image is a banner provided by Auterion to announce the partnership. Get insider news, tips, and updates. No spam, just the good stuff!