UAV Pilot / GCS Operator (Production & Validation) Nordics

ABOUT US STARK is a defense technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned vehicles that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective – giving NATO and its allies a decisive edge in the most contested environments. We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems - not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe - today. YOUR MISSION As a UAV Technician, you will be the technical backbone of our flight test operations in the Nordics, specifically driving the development of the Virtus product line. Your mission is to ensure our platforms can withstand extreme cold and operate flawlessly. In addition, working in the Nordics will include utilizing systems adapted for Arctic climate. Preferably you have built FPV copters, deeply understand UAV architectures, and can troubleshoot complex avionics on the fly.  You will face unpredictable challenges in harsh environments and solve them with a highly skilled team. You will be responsible for diagnosing issues, fine-tuning heating element settings, replacing components on the spot, and providing critical, documented feedback to the engineering team in Germany. This is a highly versatile role. While your primary focus is technical troubleshooting and UAV maintenance, you will have the opportunity to expand your scope into other areas. Your work directly ensures that our systems are rugged, reliable, and ready for our Nordic customers. RESPONSIBILITIES UAV Assembly, Integration & Troubleshooting * Serve as the on-site technical expert for the Virtus platforms during flight testing. * Diagnose, fix, and replace components on the fly (e.g., flight controllers, ESCs, brushless motors, heating elements). * Fine-tune and troubleshoot anti-icing systems and cold-weather modifications directly in the field. * Understand and debug low-level hardware communications, including CAN bus, PWM signals, and power distribution systems. Flight Line & Technical Support * Preparation of mission: prepare all tools and equipments required for the mission (pre-flight, troubleshooting and mechanical and electrical rework if it is needed) * Pre-Flight Preparation: Support engineers and pilots during pre-flight checks: connecting and routing cables, managing battery charging systems, preparing airframes for test, and verifying ground support equipment readiness. * Telemetry & Data Support: Learn to operate basic data logging and monitoring tools to support post-flight data checks and anomaly tracking. * Airspace & Safety Assistance: Support safety procedures on-site including range clearance, observer duties, and adherence to SORA/EASA site safety requirements. Flight Test Operations & Engineering Interface * Act as the critical bridge between the Nordic flight test site and the engineering team in Germany. * Meticulously document hardware failures, system behaviors in extreme cold, and on-site modifications. * Take on Flight Test Engineer responsibilities: organize test requests, maintain test logs, and perform post-flight data analysis. * Utilize Mission Planner and/or QGroundControl to extract, read, and interpret flight logs. Your First 12 Months Timeframe Focus Month 0–1: Learn & Align Understand the Virtus system architecture, engineering workflows, and cold-weather modifications. Get hands-on with our avionics stack, anti-icing systems, and telemetry setups. Familiarize yourself with our specific ArduPilot/PX4 configurations. Month 1–3: Deploy & Troubleshoot Deploy to the Nordics and spend much time at test sites. Support the initial arctic test campaigns. Focus heavily on troubleshooting heating elements, replacing components in the field, and establishing a robust feedback loop with the Engineering team and suppliers. Month 3–6: Analyze & Optimize Take ownership of flight test data organization. Analyze flight logs using Mission Planner/QGroundControl to identify performance degradation in cold weather. Begin cross-training as a GCS Operator or Safety Pilot, depending on your background. Month 6–12: Scale & Mature Establish a repeatable, reliable field-testing workflow for the arctic product line. Serve as the definitive technical authority on site. Fully integrate into Flight Test Engineering or Piloting roles to run autonomous missions from end to end. QUALIFICATIONS Experience & Technical Background * Deep, hands-on experience building, tuning, and repairing UAVs (e.g., FPV quadcopters, custom fixed-wing drones). * Strong familiarity with open-source flight stacks, specifically ArduPilot and/or PX4. * Intimate knowledge of UAV hardware architecture: Flight Controllers, ESCs, Brushless Motors, Lithium Batteries, CAN bus, and PWM. * Experience with flight control software and ground stations, preferably Mission Planner and/or QGroundControl. * Soldering skills and the ability to modify or repair electronics in field conditions. Mindset & Working Style * The Tinkerer’s Mindset: You love figuring out how things work and aren't afraid to tear a system down to fix it. * Resilience & Pragmatism: Comfortable working outdoors in cold, harsh Norwegian environments, solving problems on the fly. * Structured, meticulous, and rigorous in documenting technical issues and communicating them to remote engineering teams. * Mission-driven, with a bias for fast iteration and practical, field-expedient solutions. Location: Stockholm and Norway (Flight Test Site) with close ties to the Munich (Germany) Area HQ. NICE TO HAVE * RC Piloting experience (familiarity and ability to fly multirotors and/or fixed-wing aircraft manually, with and without stabilization). * Previous experience as a Flight Test Engineer (managing test cards, data analysis, test planning). * Experience with extreme cold weather operations, anti-icing systems, or thermal management in electronics. * Background in defense, robotics, or aerospace testing.

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments. We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems - not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe - today. YOUR MISSION You will develop and integrate embedded and backend software that runs on our unmanned systems. The work ranges from implementing ROS2 components to supporting hardware bring-up and testing. RESPONSIBILITIES * Develop embedded/back-end software modules for UAV systems * Implement ROS2 nodes, interfaces, and integration logic * Work on embedded Linux platforms and support hardware bring-up * Debug issues across software, firmware, and hardware boundaries * Support system testing and validation with hardware-in-the-loop in real life * Collaborate with Autonomy, Flight Controls, and Hardware teams * Contribute to clean, reliable code and clear documentation QUALIFICATIONS * Experience in C++ development for embedded or robotics systems * Solid background in ROS2 (nodes, topics, services, DDS) * Familiarity with Linux-based development * Understanding of sensors, communication protocols, and integration challenges * Experience with robotics, UAVs, or other mission-critical systems is an advantage * Hands-on mindset; comfortable testing on actual hardware * Nice to have experience of Computer Vision, Sensor Processing and NVIDIA Jetson  * Excellent communication and stakeholder management experience * Native/ Full professional proficiency Swedish or Norwegian  language skills are a must have * You must be eligible for Swedish security clearance (Säkerhetsprövning) and be willing to travel to Germany and other European locations when needed.