Job Description

Senior Embedded Software Engineer - Next-Gen Drone & AI Systems

North Shields, Tyne & Wear (Hybrid) | Full-time | Cutting-Edge Tech | Real-World Impact

Join the team that's rewriting the rules of aerial autonomy and edge AI.

At

Colena Ltd t/a heliguy(TM)

, we're engineering the future--literally. We're building the most advanced edge-compute drones on the planet. With real-time AI, Lidar, proprietary optical flow systems, and secure long-range video and control links packed into micro-drones, we're doing things nobody else is.

This isn't just another embedded role. It's a career-defining opportunity to work on technology that will power smart cities, emergency response, and national security for years to come. You'll join a team where your code flies--on machines you help bring to life.

What You'll Be Working On

Building cutting-edge firmware for our custom boards, focused on

ARM-based

microcontrollers and edge NPUs. Integrating high-speed

sensor arrays

(Lidar, cameras, inertial systems) and custom payloads into airborne systems. Working on

optical flow

,

AI inference pipelines

, and real-time decision-making systems. Collaborating on

proprietary RF transmission

and custom protocol stacks. Designing resilient software architecture that thrives in complex, high-stakes environments.

Tech Stack & Tools

Embedded C/C++ for

STM32

and similar platforms

NuttX RTOS

, Buildroot, U-Boot, Linux Kernel Interfaces:

SPI, I2C, UART, USB, MIPI

Familiarity with

media encoders/decoders

(h264/h265),

Python

, and

GStreamer

is a plus

Version control with Git

, collaborative code reviews Tools: STMCubeIDE, STLink, JTAG debugging, and logic analysis

Who You Are

A curious and self-motivated

problem solver

who thrives in a fast-paced, pioneering environment. Experienced in

low-level embedded systems

, especially around sensor fusion and communication protocols. Comfortable navigating from bare-metal to user-space software on Linux-based systems. Able to own complex features end-to-end--from concept to airborne deployment. You want your work to matter. You want to build things that fly, learn, adapt, and help save lives.

Why This Role is Special

This is one of the most advantageous roles in the UK for anyone wanting to lead in the era of

AI, autonomy, and aerospace innovation

. You'll gain rare, hands-on experience across fields most engineers never get near--drone flight, real-time AI, transmission systems, and advanced PCB-level development.

At Colena/heliguy(TM), you won't just be part of the team. You'll shape the direction of the most exciting drone and edge AI company in the country.

Benefits

Competitive salary (negotiable based on experience) Flexible hybrid working Clear growth path and leadership opportunities Chance to work with

world-class experts

in drone tech, AI, and RF engineering All the tools and autonomy you need to thrive
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to 70,000.00 per year

Experience:

similar: 4 years (preferred)
Location:

* North Shields, Tyne and Wear (preferred)