Senior UAV Prototyping Engineer (all genders)

STARK

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. ABOUT THE TEAM Minerva is STARK's command and control software — the brain that connects operators to autonomous systems across multiple domains in real time. The Minerva team is a small, senior software group based in Berlin and Munich, working directly with our systems and hardware teams to build mission-critical C2 capabilities deployed in active operational environments. We move fast, ship real software, and operate under constraints most engineers never encounter — low-bandwidth networks, air-gapped devices, high-stakes decision loops. There is no room for abstraction for its own sake. Everything we build ends up in the hands of real operators in the field. YOUR MISSION As a Senior Software Engineer, Mission Autonomy , build the intelligence behind real UAV swarming - the algorithms that decide which vehicle attacks which target, how the swarm re-organises when conditions change mid-mission, and how 4+ loitering munitions coordinate autonomously to overwhelm adversary defences. You will design and implement the swarm decision-making layer at the heart of Minerva Frontline, our Mission Management Software. This means building the optimisation and planning algorithms that sit above our existing mission planning engine, turning a set of operator-level objectives and battlefield conditions into coordinated, multi-vehicle strike missions—then dynamically re-planning them when the battlefield shifts. This is Genesis-stage work. There is no off-the-shelf library for what we're building. You will work shoulder-to-shoulder with our Software Architect and our backend team to take swarm coordination from concept to live flight demonstration. If you want to solve hard multi-agent problems that have real consequences in the physical world, this is the role. RESPONSIBILITIES * Architect the Swarm Brain: Design and implement the task allocation engines (auction-based allocation, Hungarian method, constraint satisfaction) that optimally assign multiple vehicles to multiple targets in high-threat environments. * Build Dynamic Re-Planning Loops: Develop real-time, deterministic algorithms that allow a swarm to adapt mid-flight. When threats appear, targets move, or a drone is jammed, your software will re-evaluate the entire battlefield and push new coordinates instantly. * Own the Optimization Layer: Build the high-level planning architecture that sits above our static mission routing engine. Your layer will decompose abstract operator objectives into specific vehicle assignments. * Simulate and Fly: Own our Software-in-the-Loop (SITL) environment to ruthlessly test and break swarm behaviors with 4+ virtual vehicles. Once validated in simulation, you will step out into the field to deploy your code onto live aircraft. QUALIFICATIONS * Production-Grade Modern C++: Python is fine for math prototyping, but our production engine runs on C++ where latency, memory efficiency, and deterministic reliability are non-negotiable. You must be comfortable owning and scaling this codebase. * 5+ Years of Autonomy/Robotics Experience: You have a proven track record of taking complex motion planning, routing, or distributed coordination algorithms out of theory and shipping them into production or rugged field environments. * Mathematical Fluency: Deep expertise in combinatorial optimization, graph theory, and multi-agent coordination. If we hand you a research paper on CBBA (Consensus-Based Bundle Algorithm), you can map out a working C++ prototype by the end of the week. * Systems-Level Thinking: You don't build algorithms in a vacuum. You care about how your planning layer interfaces with gRPC services, telemetry feeds, state management, and the operator's user interface. * High Agency & Field Mentality: You don't wait for product managers to write perfect specifications. You define the problem mathematically, build the solution, and travel to live flight trials to watch your code execute in the real world.

STARK

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. YOUR MISSION As our Werkstattmeister (Workshop Lead), you are the technical authority on the R&D shop floor. Your mission is to maintain a high-functioning prototyping environment that bridges the gap between digital design and physical testing. You will lead a small team of 3–4 technicians and act as the "gatekeeper" of our workshop standards. You balance the speed of R&D with the necessity of order: you ensure tools are returned, machines are respected, and safety is never compromised. You aren't just a supervisor; you are an enabler who provides the guidance and structure engineers need to build and test their designs effectively before they move into series production. RESPONSIBILITIES WORKSHOP MANAGEMENT & AUTHORITY * Ownership of the Floor: You define and enforce the standards for cleanliness, tool placement, and machine usage. You ensure the workshop remains organized enough to remain productive. * Asset Maintenance: You own the maintenance cycles for our CNC portal, manual lathe, and large 3D printing farm (FDM, Resin, and SLS/PA11). * Technical Guidance: You provide hands-on support and "over-the-shoulder" guidance to engineers. You ensure they use the equipment correctly and help them troubleshoot physical build issues. * Inventory & Sourcing: You manage the stock of R&D materials and hardware. You will be a key stakeholder in selecting and commissioning our future high-end metal CNC machinery. PROTOTYPING & ASSEMBLY * Execution: Lead the team in building complex prototypes, from UAV airframes to radio link towers and specialized test stands, supporting the Engineers that designed builds. * Additive Farm Oversight: Ensure the printing farm is running efficiently, prioritizing jobs based on R&D needs and ensuring the quality of high-strength PA11 SLS parts. * Process Transition: Help refine prototyping workflows so that designs can be successfully handed over to the production workshop. QUALIFICATIONS EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION * Certified Master Craftsman (Meister) or Senior Technician in a mechanical field (e.g., Feinwerkmechanik, Industriemechanik, Modellbau, or Aviation/Fluggerätmechanik). * Experience in a prototyping or R&D environment where you have managed both machines and people. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND * Machining: Strong hands-on experience with manual lathes and CNC machines (milling/portal). * Additive Manufacturing: Solid understanding of FDM and Resin processes. Practical experience with SLS (PA11) for functional parts is a strong advantage. * Familiar with CAD/CAM: Ability to work with CATIA / 3DEXPERIENCE to review designs to prepare manufacturing steps is a plus. * Standards: A background in aviation or defense-related manufacturing standards is a big plus. MINDSET & WORKING STYLE * The "Anchor" of the Shop: You have the confidence to enforce shop floor rules and ensure discipline regarding tools and safety, but you do it to help the team, not to hinder them. * Practical Leadership: You understand that R&D requires flexibility. You aim for a "clean-as-you-go" culture that supports speed rather than a rigid "sterile lab" mentality. * Quality & Pride: You take personal pride in the state of the workshop and the quality of the prototypes that leave it.

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising 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 — providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are 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. ABOUT THE TEAM You will join a growing, highly collaborative test engineering team focused on pushing our loitering munition platforms to their absolute limits. You will work directly alongside veteran flight test, propulsion, and senior RF engineers, while benefiting from dedicated project management support. Our team culture is fast-paced and deeply hands-on; we value engineering autonomy and the ability to troubleshoot complex systems on the fly. We are actively expanding our capabilities, moving from localized pre-compliance testing to establishing a fully equipped, world-class internal ground testing workshop. YOUR MISSION As a Senior Ground Test Engineer, you will be a driving force behind expanding STARK’s physical testing capabilities and building up our internal workshop infrastructure. While initially supporting our critical E3 (EMI/EMC) campaign alongside our senior RF specialists, your broader mission will be to establish and execute ground testing pipelines for environmental chambers, vibration, shock, and systems integration. Operating with high autonomy, you will procure the necessary equipment and coordinate with external test partners to ensure our systems reliably meet strict military qualification standards. RESPONSIBILITIES * Build up and equip our internal ground test workshop, identifying hardware needs, managing procurement for test tools, and establishing our in-house pre-compliance testing environment. * Expand testing capabilities beyond the initial E3 campaign to introduce environmental certification pipelines, including climate and environmental mechanical conditions. * Execute standard integration ground testing on new and existing systems to validate and prove system behavior against rigorous technical requirements. * Coordinate test campaigns with external partners and commercial test facilities (such as IABG), managing logistics, resource readiness, and scheduling for formal certifications. * Perform hands-on troubleshooting and root-cause analysis during test execution, implementing immediate on-the-spot fixes or documenting detailed findings to drive design improvements. * Collaborate cross-functionally with electronics design, systems engineering, and flight test teams to transform test data into actionable requirements for next-generation platforms. * Author comprehensive test documentation, including Test Requests (TRQs), procedural step-by-step instructions, test matrices, and formal data recording sheets. * Ensure strict adherence to safety protocols, regulatory requirements, and military standard testing methodologies throughout all test campaigns. QUALIFICATIONS * Professional Experience: 5+ years of hands-on ground testing, qualification, or hardware integration experience within the defense, aerospace, or UAV sectors. * Testing Diversification: Direct experience executing ground qualification testing under military or aerospace standards (e.g., STANAG 4370, MIL-STD-810) specifically across environmental, climatic, or dynamic (vibration/shock) regimes. * Workshop Setup: Experience specifying, procuring, and setting up laboratory or workshop test equipment (diagnostic tools, sensors, data acquisition systems). * Autonomy: A highly independent, proactive working style ("eigenständig") with a proven track record of driving test campaigns from preparation through to final reporting. * Problem Solving: Strong diagnostic and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to safely isolate anomalies in complex electrical and mechanical systems. * Language Skills: Professional working proficiency in English; conversational German language knowledge is advantage.  NICE TO HAVE * Direct testing experience with loitering munitions, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or guided tactical hardware. * Existing relationships or familiarity with European test houses and certification bodies (such as IABG). * Experience with automated test script generation or data post-processing tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Nominal). * Testing Diversification: Direct experience executing ground qualification testing under military or aerospace standards (e.g., STANAG 4866 4867 4868, MIL-STD-461 -464, AECTP-100 to 600, DO-160) specifically across environmental, climatic, or dynamic (vibration/shock) regimes.