Description

Soaring Aerospace (SAI) is a startup drone logistics company with ties to Caltech and MIT. We are developing autonomous UAV systems for commercial logistics and government applications. Operating at the intersection of advanced aeronautics, autonomy, and embedded systems, SAI partners with government agencies and strategic customers to deploy reliable, mission-critical aerial platforms.

This is a paid position with the potential to transition into a full-time role, offering significant opportunities to participate in the company’s long-term success.

Responsibilities

Work closely with the Software and Robotics team to help with:

• Building and maintaining the developer and operator utilities that take drones from a code commit to a flight-ready aircraft
• Integrating robotics sensors such as cameras, LiDARs, IMUs, GNSS receivers.
• Implementing, testing, and evaluating robotics algorithms in areas such as computer vision, localization, mapping, sensor fusion, and path planning
• Analyzing sensor data and system logs to identify performance issues and support algorithm improvements.
• Supporting laboratory and field testing of robotics and autonomous systems.
• Improving software deployment utilities used to push builds to the fleet
• Maintaining field testing utilities used during live flight operation

Qualifications

Required

• Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related technical field
• Strong experience programming in both Modern C++ and Python
• Familiarity with ROS 2 concepts, including nodes, topics, messages, services, and launch systems.
• Understanding of fundamental robotics concepts, software debugging, and data analysis
• Comfortable working in Linux environments and Git workflows
• Willingness and ability to travel to field test sites and work outdoors

Preferred

• Hands on experience with robotics sensors, such as cameras, LiDARs, IMUs, GNSS receivers
• Hands on experience with embedded computing platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson, Raspberry Pi, or similar systems
• Experience interfacing sensors, actuators, or other peripherals using microcontrollers such as ESP32, Teensy, Arduino, or STM32
• Experience implementing or using algorithms related to computer vision, localization, mapping, or sensor fusion
• Familiarity with robotics libraries and tools such as OpenCV, PCL, Eigen, NumPy, or PyTorch
• Experience with Git, Docker, or CICD
• Exposure to UAV autopilot stacks such as PX4, ArduPilot, or related systems

Compensation

• $35/hour with minimum of 25-30 hours per week
• This is an on-site position
• We are located in a prominent part of the City of Orange with close accessibility to major freeways

Pay: $35.00 per hour

Application Question(s):

• Are you currently located within commuting distance to Orange, CA?

Work Location: In person