Senior Hardware Engineer - Drone Stack

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positions

About the Role

As a Hardware Engineer at Applied Intuition Defense, you will serve as the technical anchor bridging hardware, edge software, and field flight operations. Split roughly 50/50 between the lab and the airfield, you will be responsible for bringing autonomous aerial systems from initial benchtop configuration to live operational flight.

In this role, you will configure embedded Linux environments, deploy and validate containerized software stacks, wire up mesh network topologies, and write key middleware glue code to keep subsystems communicating seamlessly. You are as comfortable with a soldering iron and oscilloscope at the bench as you are SSH-ing into an onboard computer over a mesh radio under field conditions.

What You'll Do

• Lead System Bring-Up: Drive end-to-end hardware and software integration for unmanned aerial systems, moving platforms from benchtop prototyping to active flight test campaigns.

• Deploy & Configure Edge Software: Manage, configure, and deploy software stacks using Docker images, shell scripts, and Linux system tools across onboard computes and peripheral hardware.

• Field & Bench Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot vehicle networks, payload interfaces, and sensor links in real time using command-line tools (grep, less, journalctl, nano/vim) and hardware diagnostics (multimeters, oscilloscopes).

• Build Test Tooling & Glue Code: Develop Python and C++ scripts for data reduction, log analysis, system validation, and real-time subsystem verification.

• System Cabling & Electronics: Fabricate custom wiring harnesses, perform precision soldering, and define system-level architecture using clear block diagrams.

• Manage Communications & Networks: Configure IP routing, subnets, and local network interfaces between flight controllers, companion computers, radios, and ground control stations.

What We're Looking For

• Experience: 5+ years of experience in robotics integration, flight test engineering, embedded systems, or autonomous vehicles (aerial background preferred).

• Linux & Networking Mastery: Deep practical comfort with the Linux CLI, file management, system logging, local IP routing, subnets, and containerized deployments (Docker).

• Hardware & Electronics Capability: Proven hands-on skills in wiring, custom cable assembly, bench soldering, and physical diagnostics using oscilloscopes and multimeters.

• Scripting & Glue Code: Strong proficiency in Python, C++, or Shell scripting for automation, test suite creation, and processing flight data logs.

• Protocols: Direct experience working with serial and vehicle bus protocols (UART, CAN, Ethernet, SPI, I2C).

• Leadership: Ability to lead major integration efforts independently and act as the technical link between software, GNC, and hardware teams.

Nice to Have

• Active DoD Secret Security Clearance.

• Deep experience with the MAVLink protocol and autopilot hardware (PX4, ArduPilot).

• Experience with Persistent Systems, Silvus, or similar tactical mesh radios.

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and hands-on R/C flight experience.

• Background working with defense tech platforms or flight ranges.

Security Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen

• Must hold or be eligible for a U.S. Secret security clearance

For more information about U.S. security clearances: click here.

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

 

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.

FOR US-BASED ROLES: Applied Intuition is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and interview experience to applicants who are disabled veterans and other applicants with disabilities or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations are available, requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy in any way, and you are not required to disclose the nature of your disability or medical condition in order to make a request.
If you require an accommodation please contact careers@applied.co. We will work with you!