Role Overview
We are seeking a Senior AI Engineer to lead the development of advanced autonomy and terminal engagement capabilities for high-performance UAV systems. You will architect the brains of the platform, focusing on vision-based navigation and high-precision terminal guidance in contested, GNSS-denied environments.
This role requires a system-first mindset: designing real-time intelligence that functions in complex, degraded environments where reliability is non-negotiable. You will work at the deep intersection of PX4, ROS 2, and custom Computer Vision pipelines to ensure mission success from launch to impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Terminal Guidance & Optimal Control: Design and implement Advanced Proportional Navigation and augmented guidance laws. Develop logic to compensate for dynamic targets, vehicle bank-to-turn constraints, and time-to-go estimation.
- Mission Phase Transitions: Architect the state machine for transitioning from mid-course cruise (utilizing Terrain-Referenced Navigation or VIO) to terminal seeker mode. Implement robust Line-of-Sight (LOS) rate estimation using filtered vision data.
- Long-Endurance Navigation: Develop GNSS-denied solutions using low-drift Visual-Inertial Odometry (VIO) and Global Pose Graph Optimization to minimize drift over long-range profiles (300km+).
- PX4 & ROS 2 Integration: Lead the communication architecture using micro-XRCE-DDS. Develop ROS 2 nodes to command PX4 in Offboard Mode, translating guidance commands into high-frequency attitude and thrust setpoints.
- Scene-Based Localization: Optimize feature-matching and classical image-correlation pipelines for absolute position updates, feeding corrections directly into the PX4 EKF.
- Robust Perception & Target Acquisition: Lead the strategy for detection and classification under environmental shift (low light, haze, and seasonal changes), ensuring the system can lock onto targets in degraded conditions.
- High-Rate Control Loops: Optimize the Vision-to-Actuator pipeline to minimize latency, ensuring stable guidance during high-dynamic maneuvers.
- SITL/HITL Validation: Use Gazebo/Ignition to simulate high-dynamic terminal intercepts and validate miss-distance requirements.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Experience: 5–10 years in AI/ML or Aerospace GNC; specific experience in Precision Guided Munitions (PGM) or autonomous loitering munitions is highly preferred.
- Guidance & Control: Expert understanding of Kinematic Guidance, PRONAV (APN/IPN), and closing the loop between a vision-based Seeker and flight control surfaces.
- PX4/ROS 2 Mastery: Deep experience with the PX4 architectural stack, MAVLink, and ROS 2 (Foxy/Humble). Proven ability to modify PX4 firmware or EKF parameters for external vision integration.
- Mathematics: Strong foundation in Optimal Estimation (Kalman Filters), Coordinate Transformations (ECEF/NED/Body), and 6-DOF flight dynamics.
- Software: Expert C++17/20 and Python. Experience with SIMD optimization (Neon/AVX) for running vision-based guidance at 30Hz+ on the edge.
- State Estimation: Experience fusing VIO, IMU, and Altitudinal data to maintain a stable state estimate during high-G terminal maneuvers.
- Hardware: Hands-on experience with NVIDIA Jetson (Orin/Xavier) and interfacing with gimbled or fixed-mount camera systems.
Key Competencies
- Strong system-level thinking across perception, AI, and control
- Ability to translate research into deployable, real-time systems
- Leadership in ambiguous, high-stakes engineering environments
- Deep problem-solving capability under constraints
- Ownership mindset with focus on performance and reliability
Personal Attributes
- Self-starter with a strong sense of initiative
- Collaborative team player who enjoys working in a dynamic environment
- Detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Passion for drones and unmanned aerial technology
Working Conditions
- This is a full-time position based in Bangalore that may require occasional evening or weekend work
- May require travel to customer sites or other company locations
Salary And Benefits
- Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications
- Health insurance
- Paid time off and holidays
- Opportunities for professional development and growth
