Blackstone Talent Group, an award-winning technology consulting and talent agency, is seeking a UAS GNC Systems Engineer to join our Client's team.

Our clients High Power Electromagnetics Division (HPEM) is looking for a remarkably talented, motivated, and imaginative UAS GNC Systems Engineer to support research and development activities and transition innovative technologies to the DoD, DoE, and their contractors in Colorado Springs, CO. The candidate will have the opportunity to grow and learn with talented engineers, physicists, and technicians on long-standing programs and new programs supporting our customers. Our small group will allow the candidate to experience, contribute, and collaborate in a multidisciplinary nature from conception all the way through to operation.

We are seeking a highly skilled Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Engineer to spearhead the development of unmanned navigation and control technologies within the company, focusing on flight controller integration, autonomous navigation, and AI-driven edge processing. This role involves developing and configuring flight control systems, integrating sensors, optimizing embedded software, and deploying AI models on embedded platforms. The ideal candidate will work across disciplines, collaborating with hardware, software, and AI teams to push the boundaries of autonomous aerial systems.

Core Responsibilities:

• Configure and integrate flight controllers (PX4, ArduPilot) with various UAV platforms such as CUBE.
• Perform firmware flashing, parameter tuning (PID adjustments, motor mapping, ESC calibration), and sensor integration (GPS, IMU, LiDAR, magnetometer, barometer).
• Develop and optimize embedded software using C++, Python, ROS, and MAVLink for communication with Jetson-based AI/vision systems.
• Implement computer vision and AI-based perception for real-time object tracking and SLAM, leveraging OpenCV, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and DeepStream.
• Utilize CUDA programming to optimize neural network inference on Jetson platforms for efficient edge AI deployment.
• Establish reliable networking and telemetry solutions, integrating MAVLink over Wi-Fi/LTE/5G for command/control and GStreamer/RTSP for FPV video streaming.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop mission planning and autonomous navigation capabilities using QGroundControl and Mission Planner.
• Support remote control and monitoring solutions for UAV operations in field environments.
• Build and lead a team focused on unmanned system navigation and control technology
  
  

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with flight controller integration and UAV software development.
• Working environment is indoor, moderately quiet, reasonably clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated; moderate physical hazards may exist.
• Experience with NVIDIA Jetson AI acceleration, DeepStream SDK, and/or CUDA programming.
• Knowledge of AI-driven perception, SLAM, and real-time processing on Jetson platforms.
• Experience designing UAS GNC architectures in GPS-unavailable environments.
• Strong proficiency in PX4, ArduPilot, MAVLink, ROS, C++, and Python.
• Experience with PID tuning, sensor calibration, and autonomous navigation algorithms.
• Understanding of wireless communication protocols, low-latency video streaming, and telemetry links.
• May require Light physical effort, involving standing, sitting and use of hands while performing duties, carrying or lifting up to 30 pounds.
• US Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of hands-on experience with flight controller integration and UAV software and hardware development.
• Proficiency in Linux (Ubuntu).
• Background in real-time embedded systems and FPGA-based AI acceleration.
• Familiarity with mission planning tools (QGroundControl, Mission Planner) and UAV test/validation procedures.
• Hands-on experience with hardware debugging tools (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol sniffers).
• Active DoD Top Secret Clearance
  
  

Security Clearance Required: Eligible

Blackstone Talent Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Blackstone Technology Group, a global IT services and software firm that implements technological solutions across commercial industry verticals and the US Federal Government. Blackstone's global talent augmentation practice was founded in 1998. Blackstone Talent Group has offices in San Francisco, Denver, Houston, Colorado Springs, and Washington, DC. We specialize in providing clients the best talent across a variety of industries and sectors.