MAVLink & Autopilot Engineer

About Alta Ares

Alta Ares is a deeptech startup founded in 2024, building real-time AI for defense operations - ISR, C-UAS, and autonomous systems. Our clients are NATO-aligned militaries and defence institutions, with regular deployments during live exercises and operational demonstrations. We raised €2M seed in May 2025, 50M in June 2026, and are expanding fast.

Our product suite includes:

• Real-time AI ISR module deployable on drones and tactical platforms
• Counter-UAS solution enabling autonomous drone takeover in GNSS-denied environments
• Full-stack MLOps platform for training & deploying military-grade AI models
• Data fusion and trajectory prediction

Role & Mission

As MAVLink & Autopilot Engineer, you will be at the core of Alta Ares' UAS development - designing, integrating, and hardening the autopilot and communication stack that underpins our ISR and C-UAS platforms across both fixed-wing and multi-rotor systems.

You will own the full MAVLink integration layer: from ground control station communication and mission scripting to onboard autopilot customisation and real-time telemetry pipelines. You will work hands-on with ArduPlane and ArduCopter on operational platforms, in environments where reliability, latency, and resilience are non-negotiable.

This is a deeply technical, field-connected role. You will split your time between the bench and the flight line - writing code in the morning and validating it on a live airframe in the afternoon.

1. MAVLink Integration & Protocol Engineering

• Design, implement, and maintain MAVLink-based communication pipelines between onboard systems, GCS, and ground infrastructure
• Develop custom MAVLink messages, dialects, and extensions tailored to Alta Ares' operational requirements
• Build and maintain MAVLink parsers, routers, and middleware layers in C++ and Python
• Integrate MAVLink with onboard AI inference engines, sensor fusion modules, and mission management systems
• Ensure communication robustness in degraded RF environments, high-latency links, and GNSS-denied conditions
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of Alta Ares' GCS interface and telemetry dashboards

2. ArduPlane & ArduCopter Customisation

• Own the integration and customisation of ArduPlane and ArduCopter firmware for Alta Ares' fixed-wing and multi-rotor platforms
• Develop and tune custom flight modes, mission logic, and failsafe behaviours adapted to defence operational requirements
• Implement and validate custom navigation, loiter, and search patterns for ISR missions
• Integrate external sensors and payloads into the ArduPilot ecosystem: optical systems, RF sensors, AI inference boards
• Maintain a clean, well-documented fork of ArduPilot with Alta Ares-specific modifications and upstream contribution where appropriate
• Conduct hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing prior to live flight validation

3. GNC & Autonomous Behaviour Integration

• Collaborate with GNC engineers to integrate guidance, navigation, and control algorithms into the ArduPilot stack
• Implement and validate autonomous behaviours: waypoint following, target tracking, dynamic re-tasking, and terminal phase logic
• Develop companion computer interfaces (Raspberry Pi, Jetson, or equivalent) communicating with the autopilot via MAVLink
• Support the integration of AI-driven decision layers with the autopilot for semi-autonomous and autonomous mission execution
• Ensure deterministic, predictable behaviour under edge cases and failure modes

4. Field Testing & Operational Validation

• Lead or actively participate in ground testing, bench testing, and live flight test campaigns
• Define test plans, acceptance criteria, and regression test suites for autopilot and MAVLink stack
• Debug in-flight anomalies from log analysis (DataFlash, telemetry logs) and implement fixes rapidly
• Support operational deployments and live demonstrations - including in austere field environments
• Translate field feedback from operators and military users into concrete engineering improvements

5. Documentation & Engineering Standards

• Maintain comprehensive technical documentation: architecture diagrams, interface specifications, test reports, and integration guides
• Define and enforce coding standards, review processes, and versioning practices for the autopilot and MAVLink codebase
• Support junior engineers and share expertise across the embedded and software teams

Candidate Profile
Experience

• 4-5 years of experience in embedded systems, UAS development, or robotics - with a strong focus on autopilot systems and MAVLink
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with ArduPlane and/or ArduCopter on real airframes - not just simulation
• Deep expertise in MAVLink protocol: message design, dialect customisation, routing, and integration
• Proven track record integrating companion computers with flight controllers in operational or near-operational UAS
• Experience with both fixed-wing and multi-rotor platforms is required
• Prior work in defence, dual-use, or operational UAS environments is a strong plus

Technical Skills - You Must Be Able to Do These Yourself

• C++ and Python development in embedded and companion computer contexts
• ArduPilot firmware customisation: flight modes, failsafes, mission logic, parameter tuning
• MAVLink protocol: custom dialects, message routing, parser development
• HIL/SIL testing with ArduPilot SITL and compatible simulators (Gazebo, JSBSim, RealFlight)
• Flight log analysis: DataFlash logs, MAVLink telemetry, and post-flight debugging
• Companion computer integration: serial/UART, USB, and network-based MAVLink links
• Git-based development workflows in a collaborative engineering environment