Forward Deployed Engineer (Autonomy)

Location: London, United Kingdom. The role involves significant travel to customer and partner sites across the UK and NATO nations. UK citizenship and eligibility for UK security clearance are required.

Company

hirify.global develops a software platform for AI-powered autonomous systems for enterprise and government customers.

What you will do

• Translate customer mission requirements into system architectures and demonstrable solutions built on hirify.globalOS and Skynode.
• Build, configure, integrate, and fly drone platforms using PX4 or ArduPilot for trials, demonstrations, and proof-of-concept deployments.
• Design and deliver flight trials, integration proofs, and technical demonstrations for customer and NATO/defence requirements.
• Provide avionics and airframe expertise, including autopilot tuning, sensor and payload integration, power systems, and airworthiness considerations.
• Support bids, technical proposals, RFI/RFP responses, customer relationships, and field troubleshooting across hardware and software layers.
• Document solution architectures and integration guidance while feeding customer requirements back into product and engineering teams.

Requirements

• Hands-on experience building and flying drones, ideally with PX4 or ArduPilot.
• Hands-on experience with C++, Docker, Linux, MAVLink, ground control stations, and flight test procedures.
• Background in avionics, aeronautical engineering, or a related discipline, with practical knowledge of airframes, autopilots, sensors, and payloads.
• Ability to lead customer-facing technical demonstrations and troubleshoot systems in the field.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex technical details clearly to customers.
• UK citizenship and eligibility for UK security clearance required; frequent travel across the UK and NATO nations is expected.

Nice to have

• Experience supporting sales, business development, or pre-sales engineering.
• Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Avionics, Electronics, Physics, or a related engineering discipline.

Culture & Benefits

• Flexible working hours.
• Stock options and a company pension plan.
• Generous holiday allowance.
• Mental health and wellbeing support.
• Regular team social events.
• Innovation, openness, collaboration, and technical excellence are emphasized.