UAV System Engineer - Data Operations (All genders)

At Stark, we forge the future of European and national security through cutting-edge, AI-driven technology and unmatched engineering precision. As a premier defence technology company, our mission is clear: to equip NATO Allies and their partners with next-generation autonomous defence platforms and advanced AI-driven software built to perform in the world’s most demanding environments.

We believe that true security stems from relentless innovation. By combining elite engineering talent with agile technology and an AI-native operational culture, Stark turns complex defence challenges into field-tested, multi-domain solutions.

WHY JOIN US

The software and systems you work on directly protect personnel and defend European and national sovereignty.

You will work alongside industry-leading minds on autonomous systems, advanced propulsion, and secure cyber platforms.

We foster a fast-paced, collaborative environment where bold ideas are supported by serious R&D backing.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Data Operations team owns the entire data lifecycle behind STARK's AI stack: collection, acquisition, generation, curation, and management. We run our own data-collection campaigns across Europe, evaluate new sensors and platforms, and build the internal data platform that turns raw recordings into ready-to-use datasets. Everything we produce feeds directly into the perception and autonomy systems deployed on STARK's platforms — a real data advantage is built, not bought. The team is scaling up right now: real scope, direct impact, no legacy.

YOUR MISSION

You own our data-collection flights. When the perception team needs a specific dataset — a new camera at a new angle, a lidar over specific terrain, a thermal sensor at dusk — you plan the campaign, configure and tune the platform, fly the mission, and bring clean data home. Our hardware engineer builds the rigs and mounts, our robotics engineer makes the sensors record — you make it all fly, reliably, again and again. This is a role for someone with real stick time and real PX4/ArduPilot depth: not a desk job with occasional field trips, but the other way around.

WHAT YOU WILL DO AT STARK

Plan and execute field data-collection campaigns across Europe: flight planning, site assessment, pre-flight checks, piloting, logging, and post-flight data offload

Configure, tune, and troubleshoot PX4/ArduPilot flight stacks for stable, repeatable data-collection flights

Analyze flight logs to diagnose issues and continuously improve platform reliability

Operate sensor payloads (cameras, gimbals, lidar, GNSS/IMU) during missions and verify recordings on-site

Keep the fleet mission-ready: maintenance, repairs, spare parts, battery management, and configuration control

Work with our hardware and robotics engineers on payload integration — you define what the platform needs to fly well

Maintain flight logs and campaign documentation so every flight produces usable, traceable data

Ensure operations comply with aviation regulations (EU drone rules) and internal safety procedures

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE MISSION

Confident, experienced drone pilot with substantial real-world flight hours (multirotor; fixed-wing a plus), holding an EU A2/A3 certificate or willing to obtain quickly

Solid practical knowledge of PX4 and/or ArduPilot: configuration, parameter tuning, log analysis, MAVLink basics

Hands-on experience assembling, repairing, and maintaining drones — comfortable with soldering, wiring, and multimeter debugging

Experience operating sensor payloads and ground control stations in the field

Practical, structured, and safety-conscious — you find the loose cable before it becomes a crash

Willingness to travel regularly for field campaigns and work outdoors in various conditions

Good communication skills in English (German is a plus)

NICE TO HAVE

Scripting skills (Python, Bash) for flight log processing and data offload automation

CAD basics (Fusion 360, SolidWorks) and 3D-printing experience

Experience with ROS/ROS2 recording setups or companion computers (Jetson, Raspberry Pi)

Background in FPV, drone racing, RC modeling, competition teams, or maker culture

Experience with camera settings and image quality trade-offs for data collection

German driving license class B (field campaigns)

If you're interested in building the future of European Defence with us, and you see yourself reflected on the description above, please send us your CV in English . We're looking forward to meeting you!

SECURITY CLEARANCE

Due to the nature of our work in the defence sector, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance required for this position. Details will be provided during the recruitment process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

DATA PRIVACY STATEMENT

This data privacy statement, which refers exclusively to data collected as part of the online application process, is to inform you about how your personal data that is collected as part of the online application process is handled at our end.

The controller

The controller under data protection law is:

SKD SE

Französische Strasse 12, 10117 Berlin

Commercial register entry number: HRB 260878

Registration Court: Amtsgericht Charlottenburg

• Data Protection officer: heyData GmbH, Schützenstraße 5, 10117 Berlin, www.heydata.eu , -----
• Personal data collected as part of the application process

Personal data means any information concerning the personal or material circumstances of an identified or identifiable individual. This includes information such as, for example, your name, address, telephone number and date of birth, but also data relating to your specific career etc. by reference to which a specific individual can be identified with reasonable effort. However, information which cannot be (in)directly associated with your real-life identity is not personal data.

Fundamentals and purposes of processing personal data collected from application documents and during the application process

If you apply to us electronically, i.e. via e-mail or using our online form, we will collect and process your personal data for the purpose of executing the application process and preparing contracts.

By submitting an application via our recruitment website, you express your interest in taking up work with us. In this context, you transmit personal data, which we will use and store exclusively for the purpose of your job search / application process.

In particular, the following data is collected during this process:

name (first and last names)

e-mail address

phone number

LinkedIn profile (optional)

channel through which you found us

Furthermore, you can choose to upload expressive documents such as a cover letter, your CV and reference letters. These may contain additional personal data such as date of birth, address etc.

Only authorized HR staff and/or staff involved in the application process have access to your data.

The personal data is stored, as a rule, exclusively for the purpose of filling the vacancy for which you have applied.

Your data will be stored for a period of 180 days after the application process has been concluded. This is usually done to fulfill legal requirements and/or defending ourselves against any claims arising from legal provisions. After this period, we are obligated to delete or anonymize your data. In case of anonymization, the data will only be available to us in the form of so-called metadata, without any direct personal reference, for statistical analysis (for example, share of male and/or female applicants, number of applications per specified period o