Senior Robotics Autonomy Engineer – Lead AI Systems for Counter-UAS Defense Platforms!

Austin, TX | On-site

Opportunity Summary

We are partnered with a venture-backed defense technology company building autonomous robotic systems designed to detect, track, and defeat small unmanned aerial threats. Their platform integrates perception, controls, and edge computing into a tightly coupled hardware system capable of operating in dynamic, real-world environments. As a Senior Robotics Autonomy Engineer, you will lead the design and deployment of the core autonomy stack — spanning perception, sensor fusion, decision logic, and real-time robotic response. This is a hands-on role focused on fieldable systems, not research in isolation. You will help transition advanced AI models into ruggedized hardware platforms built for mission-critical performance.

About Us

We are a well-funded defense robotics startup focused on autonomous counter-UAS systems. Operating at the intersection of AI, embedded systems, and mechanical design, the team is building integrated robotic platforms that must meet strict size, weight, and power constraints while maintaining high reliability in contested environments. The company is scaling deliberately, with a focus on engineering rigor and rapid iteration in live testing environments.

Job Duties

• Lead development of the autonomy architecture for robotic counter-UAS platforms
• Design and train perception models for detection, classification, and tracking of small aerial systems
• Build and maintain multi-modal sensor fusion pipelines combining radar, RF, acoustic, and optical inputs
• Translate perception outputs into real-time targeting and control decisions
• Develop trajectory prediction and interception logic for autonomous response
• Optimize AI and autonomy algorithms for deployment on low-SWaP embedded edge hardware
• Partner closely with controls, embedded, and mechanical engineering teams to ensure hardware-software integration
• Support field testing, data collection, model refinement, and performance validation
• Establish deployment and monitoring workflows for autonomy updates in operational environments

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in robotics, autonomy, or AI/ML engineering
• Strong programming proficiency in Python
• Experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
• Practical experience deploying models to embedded or edge computing platforms
• Background in sensor fusion, robotics perception, or real-time control systems
• Experience working across the full ML lifecycle from model development through deployment
• Strong foundation in applied mathematics including linear algebra and probability
• Must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR regulations
• Willingness to complete a background check

Preferred Experience

• Prior experience in defense, aerospace, or robotics startups
• Exposure to ROS, real-time systems, or embedded GPU platforms (e.g., Jetson)
• Experience with autonomy in safety-critical or mission-critical systems
• Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one
• Demonstrated interest in hands-on robotics or autonomous systems development

Why Join Us

• Early equity in a venture-backed defense robotics company
• Technical ownership of core autonomy and perception systems
• Direct impact on mission-critical national security applications
• Opportunity to shape the autonomy roadmap from early-stage through scale
• On-site lab environment with integrated robotics and rapid prototyping capabilities
• High-growth environment with strong leadership and clear technical vision

Compensation Details

$150,000 – $250,000

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