About this role
The Role
You'll write autonomy software that runs on aircraft and vessels. Embedded and real-time code that is close to the hardware, control and estimation logic that makes an aircraft or a boat do the right thing, and the tools around it.
Because we're a small team, you'll touch a wide surface. One week is firmware and sensor integration; the next is a control loop, a ground-station feature, or a build tool that makes everyone faster.
What You'll Own
- Write and test embedded / real-time software for flight and vessel platforms
- Build and tune control, guidance, and state-estimation logic, validated in sim and on hardware
- Integrate sensors, actuators, and comms — reason about timing, and diagnose issues at the hardware boundary
- Improve the tooling and infrastructure the team builds on — ground software, test rigs, data pipelines, internal tools
- Take a fuzzy directive and carry it to a working, tested result without waiting to be told the next step
What We're Looking For
Must have:
- Strong C++ and/or C, and the judgment to write software that holds up under demanding conditions
- Comfort on embedded, real-time, or Linux targets
- Solid grasp of sensors, timing, and working at the hardware boundary
- Git-fluent, and able to work independently in a small team with shifting priorities
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
Strongly preferred:
- Flight-stack experience — ArduPilot, PX4, or MAVLink
- Controls, state estimation, or GNC fundamentals (Kalman filtering, PID, simulation)
- Python for tooling and analysis
- Experience taking code onto vehicles or other hardware
Nice to have:
- UAV, marine, or other uncrewed-systems domain experience
- DDS or other comms/telemetry work
- Full-stack ability for internal tools and dashboards
- Active security clearance
We care more about what you can build than where you learned it. No specific degree is required, and the pay band spans mid-level through senior — we'll match the offer to the person.
Why TILT
- Do interesting work. Small team, hard problems, autonomy that ships.
- Ownership. You'll have meaningful influence over what we build and how, and see your code run on hardware.
- Sustainable pace. We work hard and build for the long haul.
- Benefits. ICHRA health benefit, 401(k), and paid time off.
Location & Schedule
Remote or on-site in Annapolis, MD. Local candidates get more time at the bench with the hardware; remote works well for engineers who can drive their own work and travel occasionally for integration and testing.
About the company
TILT Autonomy
Actively Hiring
Autonomous UxS Defense Systems11-50 Employees
Annapolis
11-50
Defense
Aerospace
Hardware + Software
Learn more about TILT Autonomy