Senior Embedded Software Designer – Unmanned Air Vehicles

Company: Robotics Centre
Location: Kanata, Ontario (Ottawa Area)
Employment Type: Full time

Experience Level: Senior (10+ years of relevant experience)
Reporting To: VP Engineering

About Robotics Centre

Robotics Centre is an Ottawa based advanced technology company launching domestic manufacturing of defence focused unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in Kanata, Ontario. We design and build secure, mission critical drone platforms intended for government, defence, and public safety applications.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Senior Embedded Software Designer with deep expertise in real-time systems, robotics, and full-stack integration to lead the design and development of next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) software systems.

This role is ideal for a highly versatile engineer who operates comfortably across embedded firmware, control systems, communications, autonomy, and ground control software, and who thrives in fast-moving, hardware-integrated environments.

You will play a critical role in building cohesive, end-to-end UAV software systems, and supporting products from concept through production.

Key Responsibilities

· Lead the design and development of end-to-end UAV software systems, spanning flight-critical embedded software, communication systems, and ground control interfaces.

· Own the definition and evolution of software architecture across the platform, ensuring cohesive integration between onboard systems, ground infrastructure, and user-facing tools.

· Drive the development of robust, reliable, and high-performance flight software, with a focus on stability, responsiveness, and real-world operability.

· Shape and implement command, control, and communication capabilities, ensuring dependable connectivity, low-latency data flow, and seamless operator interaction.

· Contribute to the design and delivery of ground control and mission planning tools that provide intuitive, real-time visibility and control of UAV operations.

· Lead the integration of autonomous behaviors and system intelligence, bridging perception, decision-making, and control into cohesive, field-ready capabilities.

· Collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, and systems engineers to ensure tight hardware-software integration and a unified system architecture.

· Support prototype bring-up, field testing, and system validation, actively debugging and refining performance in real-world environments.

· Define and contribute to requirements, system-level design decisions, and validation strategies to ensure reliability and scalability of the platform.

· Provide technical leadership through design reviews, architectural guidance, and mentorship, helping elevate overall engineering quality and execution.

· Identify technical risks early and drive practical, well-reasoned solutions that balance performance, complexity, and development timelines.

· Support the transition from prototype to deployed systems, ensuring software robustness, maintainability, and readiness for production environments.

Qualification & Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Robotics, or related field (Master’s or PhD considered an asset).

· 10+ years of experience in embedded software, robotics, or UAV systems.

· Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems development.

· Demonstrated experience with:

o Real-time systems and constraints.

o Control systems and state estimation.

o Hardware-software integration and debugging on real devices.

· Solid understanding of:

o Networking fundamentals and distributed systems.

o Sensor integration and robotics system architecture.

o Experience debugging complex systems across hardware, firmware, and software.

Preferred Assets

· Experience with autonomous systems and safety‑critical software.

· Experience developing flight control systems or UAV platforms

· Familiarity with ROS/ROS2, PX4, ArduPilot, or similar frameworks

· Experience with:

Video streaming (e.g., H.264/H.265 pipelines)

Wireless communication systems and telemetry links

· Exposure to full-stack development (frontend + backend systems)

· Familiarity with geospatial tools (Cesium, Leaflet, GIS systems)

· Background in autonomy, robotics research, or applied AI/ML

· Publications or demonstrated R&D work in robotics, autonomy, or related fields

· Experience building simulation environments or digital twins

· Experience supporting systems through field testing and real-world deployment

Benefits & Compensation

Robotics Centre offers a competitive and flexible compensation package designed to attract senior leadership talent:

· Salary on the range of $100,000 - $160,000 based on experience and qualifications.

· Comprehensive health and dental benefits.

· Opportunities to work on cutting-edge drone and robotics technologies in a collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environment.

· Meaningful technical ownership and influence over product direction.

· Flexible work culture focused on outcomes and engineering excellence.

Robotics Centre is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment and selection process.

Pay: $100,000.00-$160,000.00 per year

Application question(s):

• Do you have 8+ years of experience in embedded software, robotics, or UAV systems?

Work Location: In person