Computer Engineer Full Time

This is a direct hire role. We are not engaging external recruiting agencies at this time.

About Drone Amplified

At Drone Amplified, we tackle the “Dull, Dirty, and Dangerous.” We specialize in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) designed to take humans out of harm’s way. Our flagship technology, IGNIS, is a global leader in remote aerial ignition, allowing firefighters to manage prescribed burns and wildfire backburns from a safe distance. From the US Forest Service to international agencies, our tech is on the front lines of wildland fire management. We’re also proud to add MONTIS to our product line. The MONTIS drops explosive charges with precision-timed detonators to trigger avalanches safely and effectively. We aren’t just building drones; we’re building a safer future for those who protect our land.

About the Job

Drone Amplified is seeking an exceptional individual with a focus on computer engineering to join our team in Lincoln, NE. The ideal candidate is a drone enthusiast/tinkerer and has the ability to adapt and take chances while maintaining a high level of diligence and professionalism in their work. We are looking to hire someone to assist in developing a variety of Unmanned Aerial Systems and Payloads.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the design, development, prototyping, testing, troubleshooting, and general support of Drone Amplified products.
• Balance working independently and working with a project team.
• Assume partial to full responsibility for the design, development, testing, and documentation of products and subsystems (e.g., system architecture, component selection, cable assemblies, printed circuit boards, and embedded software).
• Write and/or modify firmware for new and existing PCBs and embedded systems.
• Design, specify, build, and verify test fixtures for new and existing products.
• Troubleshoot components and subsystems; verify and validate results against performance requirements. Write technical summaries and data-driven interpretations of results.
• Assist with supply chain technical requirements to maintain rigorous quality assurance.
• Candidates should plan to work on-site at our Lincoln, NE office.

Experiences and Knowledge

Applicants should have the following qualifications and skills.

Required

• Education: B.S. in Computer Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or a related field and 4+ years of experience (M.S. with 2+ years of experience preferred). GPA of 3.4+
• Control Systems & Motion: Proven ability to design and implement control architectures for multi-axis gimbal systems or similar products. This includes component selection (microcontrollers, motors, and IMUs) and coding of control loops.
• Firmware Expertise: Proficiency in embedded C for use within established flight stacks.
• Protocols: Strong understanding of communication protocols like UART, CAN, i2c, and SPI.
• The “Maker” Spirit: A passion for building things. You are as comfortable with soldering iron as you are with an IDE.

Preferred

• Hardware Design: Proficiency in Altium Designer (preferred) or similar PCB design suites, for printed circuit board assembly layouts.
• Flight Stack Integration: Experience working within the PX4 or ArduPilot ecosystems. Ability to navigate these codebases to implement custom drivers, MAVLink messages, or control modules.
• Computer Vision & Tracking: Experience with developing and deploying machine learning models (e.g., YOLO) on NVIDIA Jetson or Raspberry Pi’s for real-time object detection and tracking. Knowledge of integrating vision-based data into flight stacks to enable autonomous “follow” features.
• Camera Systems: Experience with camera sensors, camera optics, and lenses for use on UAS.
• RC/UAS Background: Practical experience with UAS-based cameras, LiDAR, and other remote sensors. Hands-on experience building and tuning drones or other RC aircraft.

Benefits of working at Drone Amplified

• We are a financially strong startup that is growing fast. It is a great time to join our team. We have offices in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Pennsauken, NJ.
• Salary: We offer a competitive salary and opportunities for advancement as we grow.
• Drone Flight Training: All of our employees have the opportunity to learn to fly drones and to receive a FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
• Equity: All of our employees receive stock options.
• Moving Expenses: We will cover part of your move if you are coming from out of town.
• Insurance: This position includes health, dental, and vision insurance. This is a high deductible plan, which makes you eligible for a health savings account to which Drone Amplified makes an additional yearly contribution.
• Retirement: This position includes a 401(k) retirement account where Drone Amplified will match up to 5% of employee contributions.
• Community Giving: We will match your donations dollar for dollar, up to $500 per year.
• Drone Amplified is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace.