Senior Software Engineer - Drone Systems, Amsterdam

About this job We are currently looking for a

Senior Software Engineer - Drone Systems

to join the team in the

Amsterdam Area .

You will join a small, high-impact engineering team working on advanced unmanned systems used in real-world, mission-critical environments. The team owns the full software stack of an autonomous system, ranging from low-level flight control to mission planning and operator interfaces.

This role focuses primarily on the higher levels of the system, including onboard computing, mission logic, payload integration, and ground control applications. Unlike many embedded or robotics roles, your work will be directly deployed in live operational settings, where performance and reliability are essential rather than optional.

You will collaborate closely with hardware engineers and operational teams, contributing to systems that are actively tested and used in the field. The environment offers strong ownership, rapid feedback loops, and visible impact, while requiring a disciplined approach to quality, safety, and system reliability.

Main responsibilities

Develop and maintain software for embedded flight control systems

Build and enhance onboard software for mission execution, payload control, and system coordination

Contribute to operator-facing applications, such as ground control or mission planning tools

Work across the full system stack, from low-level components to user-facing interfaces

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate, test, and deploy software on physical systems

Participate in design discussions, code reviews, and architectural decision-making as a senior contributor

Requirements Core requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant technical field

~10 years of experience in software development, including significant experience with

C++

Strong experience working in

Linux-based environments

and with real-time or embedded systems

Solid understanding of

software architecture

in complex, multi-component systems

Ability to navigate and contribute to large, existing codebases

Clear affinity with domains such as

robotics, autonomous systems, or aerospace

Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team

Preferred experience (not mandatory)

Experience with

PX4, ArduPilot

or similar

autopilot frameworks

Knowledge of

MAVLink

and related communication protocols

Understanding of

control theory

(PID controllers, state estimation, sensor fusion)

Proficiency in

Python

for tooling, testing or scripting

Experience with

ROS

or

ROS2

Familiarity with

CI/CD pipelines

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