Senior Software Engineer – Aerial Swarming (All Genders)

About the Position

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer specializing in Aerial Swarming to join our dynamic team in Germany. As part of our team, you will be instrumental in developing real-time cooperative autonomy for next-generation multi-UAV platforms. Your work will directly impact the reliability and efficiency of our autonomous multi-vehicle systems in real-world, resource-constrained environments.

About the Team

Our team operates at a fast pace, delivering real software and managing constraints that most engineers never encounter. We focus on building practical solutions that end up in the hands of real operators in the field. Our mission is to enable pure strikes with precision and reliability.

Responsibilities

• Develop and integrate real-time cooperative control, decentralized routing, and perception algorithms on embedded platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson devices.
• Architect and optimize multi-agent communication networks utilizing ROS2 and DDS architectures to ensure reliable data distribution in challenging environments.
• Implement and maintain Software-in-the-Loop (SITL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) testing environments to rigorously validate swarming features before physical flight.
• Collaborate with AI, controls, and hardware teams to ensure tight integration between swarming behaviors and other onboard subsystems.
• Profile and debug system performance under embedded constraints (compute, thermal, bandwidth), ensuring stability and robustness in multi-vehicle field deployments.
• Contribute to system-level architecture discussions with a focus on communication reliability, modularity, and clean C++ implementation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience in robotics, aerospace, or autonomous systems.
• Expert-level proficiency in modern C++ (C++17/20) for low-latency, multi-threaded embedded and robotics development.
• Deep, hands-on knowledge of ROS2 and a strong foundational understanding of DDS architectures for real-time communication.
• Strong experience working with embedded Linux platforms, particularly NVIDIA Jetson devices, and hardware interfaces.
• Familiarity with autonomous swarming algorithms (e.g., flocking, consensus, decentralized task allocation) deployed on physical multi-vehicle systems is highly desirable.

Nice to Have

• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills, especially in real-time or resource-constrained environments.
• Effective communicator and team player in multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for field testing and deployment.
• Fluent English (C1 preferred). German language skills are advantageous but not required.

We Offer

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborate with a dedicated and mission-driven team.
• Competitive compensation package.
• Professional growth and development opportunities.

About the Company

At SKD SE, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation. Our team is passionate about developing solutions that make a real impact in the field. Join us and be part of a team that is shaping the future of aerial swarming technology.