About the Opportunity
We are supporting a well-funded, fast-scaling robotics company on an exclusive search for a Head of Advanced Robotics. Our client is building next-generation autonomous UAV platforms, combining computer vision, AI, and specialized flight control systems to enable complex aerial missions at scale, addressing critical gaps that manual or semi-autonomous operation cannot meet.
The Role
This is a highly technical, hands-on leadership position. You will act as the technical authority for UAV robotics, owning the architecture and evolution of the company's autonomous flight platforms and working closely with cross-functional teams to bring advanced solutions from concept to production.
Responsibilities
- Lead innovation across UAV robotics applications, from research and prototyping through to production deployment
- Serve as technical owner and subject-matter expert for UAV software, with a strong focus on ROS/ROS2 architectures
- Architect, implement, and continuously evolve intelligent flight control and autonomy systems
- Design, develop, and maintain scalable, reliable ROS/ROS2-based software stacks for UAV platforms
- Write detailed product and system specifications; lead the software design strategy across the UAV portfolio
- Partner with leadership, R&D, product, and manufacturing to shape the long-term autonomy and automation roadmap
- Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and design reviews for robotics engineers and developers
- Manage relationships with external software consultants and technology partners as needed
Your Profile
- Advanced degree in Robotics, Aerospace, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or a related field
- 10+ years of hands-on robotics development experience, ideally involving UAVs, aerial systems, or other autonomous vehicles
- Deep ROS/ROS2 expertise, including:
- Path planning and navigation for autonomous aerial platforms operating in complex, dynamic environments
- Building and maintaining high-fidelity digital twin/flight simulations, with calibration to keep simulation and reality aligned
- Implementing closed-loop flight control algorithms alongside perception and vision teams
- Strong grounding in system architecture, software design, and robotics/UAV software industrialization
- Hands-on experience with autonomous flight control systems, sensor fusion, or related embedded robotics platforms
- Track record of leading technically complex projects from concept to deployment
- Strong communicator, able to translate technical concepts for varied stakeholders
- Hands-on, proactive, solution-oriented; comfortable under pressure with competing priorities
What's on Offer
- High autonomy within a collaborative, highly skilled team
- A transparent culture where contributions are genuinely valued
- Ownership of challenging problems, with strong support from leads and peers
- Access to cutting-edge technology and a steep learning curve from day one
- Complementary health insurance