Icarus Swarms develops autonomous drone swarm technologies for defense, security and industrial clients. As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer, you will own critical parts of the software that runs on board our drones and makes the swarm work as one system.
Your missions
- Design, develop and optimize embedded software in C/C++ on embedded Linux and real-time targets (RTOS, microcontrollers)
- Integrate and extend the flight stack (PX4 / ArduPilot) and its interfaces (MAVLink, uORB, DDS)
- Develop low-level drivers and interfaces for sensors, payloads and radio links (UART, SPI, I²C, CAN, Ethernet)
- Contribute to communication within the swarm and between the swarm and the ground (mesh networking, latency, robustness)
- Work on performance, reliability, real-time behavior and security of the onboard software
- Set up testing: unit tests, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), software-in-the-loop (SIL) and flight tests
- Support integration, trials and demonstrations on client sites in Europe, Asia and North America
- Mentor junior engineers and interns, and take part in architecture and code reviews
- Introductory call with HR (30 min)
- Technical interview with the CTO and an engineer (experience, embedded architecture, code)
- Practical exercise or technical case study
- On-site meeting with the team in Bordeaux
Practical information
- Full-time permanent contract (CDI), based in Bordeaux, France
- Regular travel to Europe, Asia and North America
- 4+ years of experience required
- Engineering degree or Master's in embedded systems, computer science, electronics or robotics
- At least 4 years of experience in embedded software development
- Excellent C and modern C++ skills; Python for tooling and testing
- Solid experience with embedded Linux (Yocto/Buildroot, cross-compilation, kernel/driver basics) and/or RTOS (FreeRTOS, NuttX, Zephyr)
- Good knowledge of hardware interfaces and of debugging on target (JTAG, oscilloscope, logic analyzer)
- Nice to have: PX4/ArduPilot, MAVLink, ROS 2, radio communications and mesh networking, multi-agent systems, safety-critical or defense-grade development
- Git, CI/CD and testing culture
- Fluent English; French is a plus
- Available to travel regularly (Europe, Asia, North America) for integrations, trials and client demonstrations
Working at Icarus Swarms means joining a defense-oriented deep-tech startup developing advanced swarm robotics systems for sovereign, security, and high-end operational applications. The company operates at the intersection of robotics, autonomy, and real-world deployment, with technologies designed to move rapidly from R&D to field use.
You become part of a highly committed team with a strong sense of purpose: designing robotic swarm systems that address concrete defense and security challenges. Passion, technical excellence, and operational realism are central to everything we build.
International and strategic exposure
Around 80% of Icarus Swarms’ activity is international, involving frequent travel and direct interaction with defense forces, institutional customers, and strategic partners worldwide.
Exceptional deep-tech resources
Icarus Swarms offers material capabilities rarely accessible in a startup environment:
Thousands of autonomous robotic platforms, including aerial and hybrid systems
Dedicated outdoor test and flight zones
A large indoor test hangar enabling year-round experimentation and demonstrations
A water basin supporting hybrid and multi-domain robotics testing
Startup agility with operational constraints
You will work in a fast-moving deep-tech startup, where decisions are short, responsibilities are broad, and impact is immediate—while maintaining the rigor required by defense and security applications.
Flexible working conditions and benefits
Possibility to work remotely up to two days per week, depending on operational needs
A demanding yet rewarding environment combining cutting-edge technology, field operations, and international reach
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