Senior UAS Engineer

Job Title: Senior UAS Engineer

Reports To: CEO

Location: On-Site in Huntsville, AL

Employment Type: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Supervisory: No

Background Check: Yes

Security Clearance: Public Trust

Travel: Up to 10%

About Us

Rising Tide Technology Group, Inc. is the premier UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) solutions provider based in Huntsville, Alabama - an epicenter of aerospace innovation. We specialize in drone operations, pilot training, aircrew development, Drone-as-First-Responder (DFR) operations, and cutting-edge UAS technologies, serving both public and private sectors.

At Rising Tide Technology Group, we believe A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships. Our mission is to elevate national security and technological readiness by delivering elite UAS training, operational support, and IT solutions. Built by veterans and powered by tactical and technical experts, we partner with government, industry, and academia to stay ahead of the evolving technology landscape.

Job Overview

RTTG is seeking an experienced, hands-on Senior UAS Engineer to lead the development, integration, optimization, and sustainment of our uncrewed aircraft platforms at the firmware and flight-stack level. This senior-level technical role requires deep expertise in embedded systems, flight-control firmware, and UAS hardware integration, with the ability to independently drive complex engineering initiatives from development through flight validation and operational deployment. The ideal candidate is comfortable working directly within firmware source code, troubleshooting complex hardware and software issues, and providing technical guidance across multidisciplinary teams. You will serve as a technical subject matter expert across FPV and autonomous UAS platforms, including Betaflight, PX4, and ArduPilot, bridging the gap between firmware development, hardware integration, and validated flight performance.

What You'll Do

• Lead the development, modification, building, debugging, and deployment of flight-controller and autopilot firmware across PX4, ArduPilot, and Betaflight platforms, working directly within C/C++ source code.
• Design and implement enhancements to flight modes, control algorithms, parameters, mixers, failsafes, and embedded flight-control logic.
• Lead hardware and software integration efforts involving flight controllers, ESCs, sensors, radios, telemetry systems, companion computers, and mission-specific payloads.
• Oversee UAS performance optimization, including advanced PID/rate tuning, filtering, vibration analysis, and flight-log evaluation.
• Develop and execute structured bench, integration, and flight-testing procedures to validate system performance, reliability, and operational readiness.
• Lead complex technical investigations, analyze flight logs (Blackbox, ULog, DataFlash), identify root causes, and implement corrective engineering solutions.
• Develop and maintain Python-based scripting, automation tools, and reproducible firmware build processes using Git and version-control best practices.
• Serve as a technical subject matter expert, providing engineering guidance, mentorship, and recommendations to junior engineers and cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with operations, pilots/RPICs, customers, and suppliers to translate mission requirements into engineering solutions while identifying technical risks and developing mitigation strategies.
• Establish engineering best practices and maintain technical documentation, firmware baselines, test results, and engineering reports; prepare and deliver technical briefings and recommendations to stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent demonstrable hands-on experience, with a minimum of 7 years of relevant engineering experience, including direct UAS development and integration.
• Advanced experience with PX4, ArduPilot, and Betaflight, including firmware development, source-code modification, compilation, debugging, flashing, and validation on physical hardware.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ programming, embedded systems, MAVLink protocols, and ground-control software, including QGroundControl, Mission Planner, and Betaflight Configurator.
• Extensive hands-on experience with UAS hardware integration, flight-controller tuning, flight-log analysis, and complex hardware/software troubleshooting, with demonstrated ability to independently lead technical engineering initiatives.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and technical leadership skills, with proficiency in Git and version-controlled development workflows; ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. U.S. citizenship required.

Preferred

• Advanced experience with Python-based UAS tooling (pymavlink/DroneKit), companion-computer integration (Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Jetson), ROS/ROS 2, and embedded debugging tools.
• Experience developing custom PX4 modules, ArduPilot libraries, or Betaflight features, including advanced flight-control algorithms, sensor integration, and autonomous flight capabilities.
• Experience supporting UAS development in defense or federal-contract environments, familiarity with FAA Part 107 regulations, and an active or eligible DoD security clearance.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

This position requires the ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs and to sit, stand, walk, bend, and crouch for extended periods while performing engineering, testing, and integration activities. Work is performed in office, laboratory, workshop, and outdoor field-testing environments, which may involve exposure to varying weather conditions, noise, electrical equipment, and moving machinery. Employees must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), as applicable, and follow all established safety procedures.

Compensation & Benefits

The Compensation range for this position is $90,000 to $100,000 per year.

RTTG offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) option
• Employer-provided life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rising Tide Technology Group, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process may contact Human Resources at [email protected].

Pay: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person