Internship UAV Controls Engineer

Fiducial

OPENING: WE CANNOT PROVIDE VISA SPONSORSHIP DETAILS Preferred starting date: 1st August or 1st September onwards Weekly availability: Full-time (5 days/week) Period: 6 months Location: Delft, the Netherlands ABOUT THE COMPANY Fiducial is a young but fast-growing deep-tech start-up with big ambitions at the frontier of autonomy, perception, and defence. Currently, we are developing software for advanced onboard UAV situational awareness in military applications. Using low-cost and widely available sensors and compute, our solutions are built for scalability. From there, we plan to develop a line-up of interconnected solutions to safeguard European safety. Our team consists of engineers who are passionate about the technology and solutions they develop. The only time most of us are not thinking about the technology is when we are asleep, and sometimes even then. Our team members come from different backgrounds such as Aerospace Engineering, Computational Science and Engineering, Robotics, and Computer Graphics. Our office is located in the Aerospace Innovation Hub, a start-up hub on the TU Delft campus in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. We work closely with top-tier partners, ranging from government agencies and prime contractors to academic research institutes and other start-ups. Our projects span from large tender orders in collaboration with partners to low-TRL research with government agencies. Whether through formal R&D programs or rapid prototyping tracks, we operate at the intersection of innovation and deployment. YOUR ROLE If you are the kind of person who enjoys being on the sticks, knows how to prepare a platform for flight, and likes making sure UAV systems are always ready to go, this internship is designed for you. We are looking for a UAV Pilot & Flight Operations Intern who is first and foremost excited about piloting and operating UAV platforms. This role is not limited to FPV systems, although FPV experience is highly valued. You will also work with other platforms such as multirotors including the Holybro X650 and fixed-wing aircraft. Your main responsibility is to make sure our UAV platforms are flight-ready at all times. That means not only flying, but also checking, maintaining, preparing, troubleshooting, and improving the systems before and after flight operations. This is not a desk-only internship. You will spend time around real aircraft, in the workshop, and in the field. You will pilot, test, inspect, and help ensure our drone platforms can be deployed reliably and safely. WHAT YOU’LL DO * Pilot and operate UAV platforms in test and R&D environments. * Support flight operations across multiple platform types, including: * FPV drones * multirotor systems such as the Holybro X650 * fixed-wing UAVs * Ensure platforms are flight-ready at all times through structured pre-flight, post-flight, and maintenance routines. * Perform system checks on airframes, propulsion systems, power systems, RC links, telemetry, payloads, and onboard compute. * Prepare platforms for test days by charging batteries, checking logs, verifying configurations, updating firmware where needed, and confirming component health. * Troubleshoot flight readiness issues quickly and methodically. * Help maintain and improve standard operating procedures for flight preparation, field deployment, and recovery. * Assist with setup and tuning of flight controllers such as ArduPilot, Betaflight and related ground control workflows. * Work hands-on with onboard systems including compute boards such as Jetson, Orange Pi, and associated sensors. * Support deployment and field testing of embedded perception and autonomy software. * Solder, assemble, repair, and prototype wiring, adapters, mounts, and housings when needed. * 3D-print parts and contribute to practical workshop solutions that improve reliability and ease of deployment. * Participate in outdoor test campaigns, collect observations, and communicate technical issues clearly with the engineering team. * Help keep our platforms organized, maintained, documented, and ready for rapid iteration. WHO YOU ARE * You have experience flying UAVs, RC aircraft, or FPV systems. * You are genuinely excited about piloting and flight operations. * You care about making systems reliable, safe, and ready to fly. * You enjoy practical technical work and solving real hardware problems. * You are comfortable taking responsibility for the condition and readiness of physical platforms. * You like working in the field as much as in the workshop. * Linux does not scare you. * You are independent, curious, organized, and resourceful. * You are able to work carefully and consistently, especially when preparing systems for flight. * We care much more about what you have built, flown, maintained, or fixed than about grades. * You have a driver’s license * Drone pilot license or similar flight certification NICE TO HAVE These are strong pluses, but not strict requirements: * Experience with FPV systems * Experience with multirotor UAVs and/or fixed-wing platforms * Familiarity with ArduPilot, Betaflight, or other flight controller ecosystems * Experience with Holybro, Pixhawk-based systems, ESCs, power distribution, telemetry radios, or RC links * Experience with onboard compute such as Jetson or Orange Pi * Soldering and electronics debugging skills * 3D printing, CAD, or rapid prototyping experience * Basic embedded software or robotics experience * Experience with field testing and flight logs PLEASE INCLUDE When applying, please include photos, videos, or links to things that show us you actually build, fly, or maintain systems. For example: * drone builds * FPV rigs * multirotor or fixed-wing platforms * workshop or field setup * electronics projects * CAD or 3D-printed parts * GitHub repositories * flight videos * repair or maintenance work * anything that demonstrates hands-on flying or technical ownership If you’ve ever crashed something, fixed it, and flown it again, you’ll probably fit right in. REQUIREMENTS * Enrolled in a relevant study program (Aerospace, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or similar) * Basic Linux skills * Strong interest in UAVs, flight operations, robotics, embedded systems, or autonomy * English proficiency * Organized and proactive working style WHAT WE OFFER * 1000 euro monthly internship allowance * 10 vacation days during the internship period * Flexible working hours and the option to work from home 2 days per week where practical * A direct and significant influence on highly innovative products * The opportunity to work close to the hardware and the product, with fast iteration and tight feedback loops * Responsibility over the systems and improvements you contribute to * A team environment where practical experimentation, learning, and ownership are expected THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE * If after reading the above you are convinced you are the right person for the job, send us some information about yourself. This can be a resume, website, portfolio, or any other source that gives us a clear impression of your background, technical skills, and hands-on experience. We will get back to you ASAP. * If we think you could be a fit for the position, we will invite you for an informal introduction so we can get to know you, and equally important, you can get to know us. After this, a more technically focused interview may follow. * If at that point we believe you are the person we are looking for, we will discuss the specifics such as starting date and internship period. Welcome to the team!

Fiducial

OPENING WE CANNOT PROVIDE VISA SPONSORSHIP DETAILS Preferred starting date: ASAP Weekly availability: full-time (5 days/week) Period: 6 months Location: Aerospace Innovation Hub, Delft, the Netherlands ABOUT THE COMPANY Fiducial is a young but fast-growing deep-tech start-up with big ambitions at the frontier of autonomy, perception, and defence. Our core expertise lies in 3D vision and graphics technologies which we deploy in a dual-use context for inspection and defence. This role will initially focus mainly on the defence context where we are developing software for advanced on-board UAV situational awareness in military applications. Our solutions are aimed to operate with low-cost and widely available sensors and compute. From there, we plan to develop a line-up of interconnected solutions to safeguard European safety. Our team consists of engineers that are passionate about the technology and solutions they develop. The only time most of us are not thinking about the technology is when we are asleep, and sometimes even then. Our team members have a background in different fields such as Aerospace Engineering, Computational Science and Engineering, Robotics, and Computer Graphics. Our office is located in the Aerospace Innovation Hub, a start-up hub located on the TU Delft campus in the faculty of Aerospace Engineering. We work closely with top-tier partners, ranging from government agencies and prime contractors to academic research institutes and other start-ups. Our projects span from large tender orders in collaboration with partners, low TRL research with government agencies, to direct collaboration with military units. Whether through formal R&D programs or rapid prototyping tracks, we operate at the intersection of innovation and deployment. YOUR ROLE You will work in our team of experienced 3D vision engineers, 3D computer graphics engineers, and robotics engineers. You will not just work on some unimportant side project but you might actually build key parts of solutions that will be used by our customers and partners. Activities include: * Working on our in-house SOTA-beating visual odometry engine * Reconstructing 3D flight paths from camera detections * Implementing novel depth estimation methods for navigation WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU * Experience with real-time software development such as game, simulation, robotics or embedded development. * Experience with 3D vision for robotics such as SLAM, VIO, LIO or similar. * Familiarity with basic 3D vision concepts and algorithms such as projective geometry, epipolar geometry, PnP * Experience with 3D reconstruction solutions such as gaussian splatting, COLMAP, or photogrammetry. * Experience with modern C++ General * Full-time availability during the internship period. * A willingness to pick up and learn new concepts quickly and to self-acquire missing background knowledge. * A high degree of autonomy, determination and grit in making cool tech work. WHAT CAN WE OFFER * 1000 euro monthly compensation. * 10 vacation days during internship period. * (Really) flexible working hours and option to work from home 2 days per week. * Have a direct and significant influence on highly innovative products. * The opportunity to iterate quickly with tight feedback loops, close to the product. We are innovating, learning is to be expected. * Responsibility over the things you implement, you are the expert on what you build. THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE * If after reading the above you are convinced you are the right person for the job, send us some information about yourself; this can be a resume, website or other source, as long as we get a clear impression of your background and skills. * We’ll get back to you ASAP. If we feel you could be a fit for the position, we’ll invite you for an informal introduction so we can get to know you, and equally important, you can get to know us. After this, a technical focused interview could follow. * If at this point we feel you are the person we are looking for, we’ll discuss the specifics (starting date and period). * Welcome to the team!

Fiducial

OPENING WE CANNOT PROVIDE VISA SPONSORSHIP DETAILS Preferred starting date: September 2026 Weekly availability: Full-time on-site (5 days/week) Period: Minimum 6 months Location: Delft, the Netherlands ABOUT THE COMPANY Fiducial is a young, fast-growing deep-tech start-up at the frontier of autonomy, perception, and defence. Our core expertise lies in 3D vision and graphics technologies, which we deploy in a dual-use context for inspection and defence. We work closely with top-tier partners ranging from government agencies and prime contractors to research institutes, start-ups, and military units. Our projects span from rapid field‑testing and of drone autonomy to MoD funded research and development programs. The variety of our clients means we operate at the intersection of deep tech and operational field relevance. In this context, it is important to understand how different actors behave in the defence sector, especially in regard to adopting innovative capabilities from non‑legacy actors. To complement our highly technical team, we are looking for an intern who can bring knowledge and experience in defence, technology and/or business to strengthen our existing capabilities. YOUR ROLE You will join our business development team to help turn technical products into clear value propositions, concrete opportunities, and structured sales funnels with customers, end‑users, and funding bodies. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys combining research and writing to create leads, support proposals, and document our commercial activities in a clear and professional way. You will play a key supporting role across the early stages of our sales and partnership pipeline: researching and qualifying prospects, mapping stakeholders, preparing proposal material, meeting customers and partners, and keeping our documentation and databases up to date. Because we are a small and fast‑moving team, you will work across a wide range of activities, from preparing concise briefings and proposal sections to designing one‑pagers and keeping opportunity trackers structured and current. The role suits someone who is analytical and structured, has a knack for storytelling, and a strong interest in the intersection of defence innovation, deep tech, and commercial strategy. You will likely touch multiple domains during your internship, and the exact focus will depend on your strengths and initiative. We value curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to learn quickly. If your background differs but you believe you can contribute to the mission we outline, please tell us how. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES * Lead generation and prospecting Researching and mapping potential clients, partners, and end‑users in defence, border security, and industrial inspection, and compiling prospect lists and profiles for outreach. * Client and stakeholder research Analysing organisations, competitors, and clients, and maintaining structured contact and stakeholder maps. * Competitive and market analysis Researching competitors, alternative solutions, and adjacent technologies; summarising trends, funding initiatives, and capability gaps in concise internal briefs for the team. * Sales and proposal support Supporting proposal writing by drafting capability descriptions, project abstracts, and impact statements; tailoring standard texts to specific clients, calls, or programmes and helping prepare proposal packages and pitch decks. * Documentation and CRM hygiene Helping maintain and improve our opportunity trackers, contact databases, and CRM records; documenting meetings, events, and follow‑ups so that our pipeline and history are easy to understand and act on. * Visual sales materials Creating visual materials such as one‑pagers, infographics, and simple case studies for consortiums, funding calls, and marketing; assisting in maintaining a coherent visual identity and message across all outward‑facing materials. * Client‑facing preparation and follow‑up Preparing talking points, briefing notes, and background dossiers for events and meetings; helping draft follow‑up emails, summarise discussions, and capture new leads and actions from interactions. * Internal reporting and presentations Helping structure internal reports, dashboards, and presentations for the company as well as partners, investors, and agencies, with a focus on clarity, consistency, and reusability. WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU * MSc or final‑year BSc student in Business / Management or similar. Other backgrounds are welcome to apply if they include a justification for their fit. * Excellent written and spoken English. * Comfortable with travelling for work. * A knack for storytelling in a business, sales, or policy context: at events, you will be expected to convey our activities and value propositions attractively and truthfully, sometimes under pressure when speaking to high‑ranking experts. * Strong research skills especially in investigating markets, competitors, and clients thoroughly and precisely without losing track of the bigger picture. * Good command of PowerPoint / Word / Notion, and comfortable using these tools to produce polished proposals, presentations, and documentation. * Ability to summarize technical or strategic content clearly and concisely for commercial and policy audiences. * Genuine curiosity about technology and its effects on markets, especially regarding drones, autonomy, and border security. BONUS * Ability to speak Dutch or Ukrainian. Other language skills can also be a plus. * Any prior exposure to sales, business development, proposal writing, consulting, or account management. * Experience related to geopolitical analysis, especially regarding armed conflicts. WHAT WE CAN OFFER * €750 monthly compensation. * 10 vacation days during the internship period. * Flexible working hours and the option to work from home up to two days per week. * Direct exposure to European defence and innovation ecosystems (DIANA, EDA, ESA NAVISP, etc.). * A chance to work closely with engineers on products that are currently being used in the field and learn how to consistently iterate in response to feedback and field developments. * A chance to take part in a fast‑growing company, seeing it move through funding rounds and grow to meet demand. * Ability to travel to various events throughout Europe and gain insights into the defence industry and strategic priorities for Europe, as well as a chance to interact directly with high‑ranking people such as generals and CEOs of large companies. THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE If this sounds like a fit, send us the following: * Your CV * A personal project or writing sample related to military, dual‑use, or deep tech. Articles in a journal/newspaper, a university essay/project, a personal blog, etc. You may also write something specifically for this application. The idea is to show us your existing interest in the fields, and activities you’ve done in the past to reflect that. * A motivation letter. Show us your knowledge and interest in drone dual‑use technology and how you see yourself contributing to business development and government affairs at Fiducial. We’ll get back to you in July. If we feel you could be a fit, we’ll invite you to a case interview, followed by a final interview with our CEO if you’re successful. If it’s a match, welcome to the team!