Founding Engineer - Robotics and Embedded Systems

Flyer Ai; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A pioneering tech startup in the UK is looking for a Founding Engineer specializing in Robotics and Embedded Systems to join their small team. This role will involve owning the design and integration of the digital systems for autonomous VTOL aircraft. The successful candidate will be passionate, innovative, and ready to tackle challenging problems with technology. Significant equity and opportunities for immediate impact are part of the offer.

Benefits

Significant Equity

Immediate Impact

Competitive salary

Unlimited paid time off

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in design, integration, and testing of robotic systems.
• Deep understanding of sensors and databuses.
• Familiarity with UAV flight controllers and firmware.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, coding, integration, and testing of the aircraft systems.
• Work with the founder and the team to develop prototype aircraft.
• Integrate multiple sensors and processors into the vehicle.

Skills

Embedded software

Electronic systems

Problem-solving

OpenCV

RF communications

ROS2

Tools

STM

Raspberry Pi

Nvidia devices

Job description

Founding Engineer - Robotics and Embedded Systems

The first stage of our application process is a short Q&A session with our LLM interviewer. If you don't wish to proceed at any stage, you may type 'end interview'

Where you'll fit in

A small and focussed team has been developing our prototype aircraft for technical demonstrations and seed fundraising in Q1 2026. Now in receipt of 2 separate grant funding awards, Flyer is expanding our 3-person founding team with 3 key, critical roles.

You will join this incredible team, onsite, working directly with the founder and our expanding team to take Flyer from tech startup to global phenomenon over the next 5 years.

LOCATION

We are currently located near the beautiful and vibrant city of Salisbury, in Wiltshire. A move early next year to premises nearer Bristol or London is under consideration.

What you'll be doing

As a founding engineer for Robotics and Embedded Systems at Flyer AI, you'll own the design, integration, coding and testing of our autonomous VTOL aircraft's digital and electronic systems.

In other words, you will own the brain and nervous system of the aircraft.

Our vehicle is not just an aircraft – it is a complex robotic system integrating multiple sensors and processors, and executing multiple functions.

What we're looking for

We are not looking for ordinary people. We're looking for passionate, driven and enthusiastic team members who dream of doing impossible things with technology, and changing the world around us.

• Team players who live our values: passion, commitment, courage, integrity, and trust.
• A fail-fast, forward-leaning mindset that takes measured risks to move fast.
• A deep understanding of embedded software and electronic systems such as STM, Raspberry Pi and Nvidia devices, sensors and databuses.
• Familiarity with ROS2.
• Proven expertise in design, integration, and testing robotic / embedded systems.
• Intuitive problem-solving skills and first-principles thinking.
• Knowledge of OpenCV and end-to-end vision systems.
• Electrical Engineering expertise.
• Familiarity with RF communications.
• Familiarity with commercial / open source UAV flight controllers and firmware.

What you'll get

• Significant Equity – as a founding team member, you will own a significant stake in the future we are building.
• Immediate Impact - you will be one of the first 6 employees, shaping the engineering culture from day one.
• Competitive salary – an initial stipend plus salary uplift following Q1 2026 fundraising.
• Unlimited paid time off – take what you need, when you need it.

The first stage of our application process is a short Q&A session with our LLM interviewer. If you don't wish to proceed at any stage, you may type 'end interview'