Autonomy Engineer, State Estimation & Control
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 16, 2026. First seen by Alion on Jul 2, 2026. BRINC scores A on the Alion truth index.
About BRINC:
At BRINC, we are building the technology that will define the future of emergency response. As a vertically integrated U.S. drone technology company, BRINC designs and manufactures unmanned aircraft systems, autonomous drone stations, command-and-control software, and advanced autonomy for public safety. Today, BRINC deploys Drone as First Responder (DFR) networks that dispatch drones directly to 911 calls, providing real-time aerial intelligence before ground units arrive and helping first responders make faster, safer decisions. BRINC serves more than 1,000 public safety customers across all 50 states, is the sole drone supplier to Motorola Solutions, and has raised more than $280 million from leading strategic and technology investors, including Motorola Solutions, Index Ventures, Sam Altman, Dylan Field, and others. BRINC is recruiting exceptional engineers to build the next generation of autonomous emergency-response technology, including flight-critical firmware and advanced pilot-assistance capabilities.
About this Role:
We are seeking an Autonomy Engineer to join our team and advance the reliability and resiliency of our UAV state estimation & control systems. You will design, implement, and optimize real-time algorithms that enable the drone to localize itself and maintain stability while moving through the world. In this role, you will work with sensor fusion algorithms (EKFs, factor graphs, VIO), and fast real-time control loops. You will collaborate closely with navigation, embedded software, and hardware teams to bring next-generation solutions into production UAV platforms.
Key Responsibilities:
Research and design algorithms enabling UAV state estimation and control.
Implement and optimize real-time estimation & control algorithms on embedded processors for computational efficiency and system resiliency.
Validate estimation and control performance through simulation, log replay, hardware-in-the-loop, and real-world flight testing in a variety of conditions.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration.
Contribute to technical strategy, define best practices, and help guide the evolution of the estimation and control stack as systems scale and mature.
Qualifications:
PhD in Computer Science or a related field, or a Master's degree with a minimum of 2+ years of industry experience.
Strong programming skills in C++ and Python, with experience developing software for real physical systems.
Experience developing state estimation and/or control algorithms for physical unmanned systems.
Solid understanding of estimation and control fundamentals (EKFs, state feedback control).
Preferred Skills:
Familiarity with modern sensor fusion approaches such as factor graphs
Familiarity with robust or adaptive control
Experience with ROS2, PX4, MAVSDK, and/or similar robotics middleware
Familiarity with safety-critical or certifiable software practices a plus
Background in UAV reliability, redundancy, and autonomous flight considerations.
Experience with ROS, PX4, MAVSDK, and/or similar robotics middleware.
BRINC Culture Values:
Try the hard stuff
Be innovative - Invent the future
Move fast
Listen to end-users
Strive for excellence
Don’t build a dystopia
Be frugal
Save lives through technology
If you’re interested in this role and in joining BRINC, we hope you’ll apply. We’d love to review your application and get to know more about you!
BRINC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that is resolute in cultivating an environment that promotes safety, diversity, inclusion and equity. We’re committed to hiring the best talent - regardless of race, creed, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances - and empowering every employee so they can do their best work. If you have a disability or special need, please let our recruiting team know - we strive to provide appropriate accommodation and assistance.
Benefits and perks listed below may vary based on the nature of your employment with BRINC and/or the country within which you work
Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans for our employees and their families
401K plan
Maternity and paternity leave
Flexible Time Off (Exempt) / Paid time off (Non-Exempt)
Flexible work environment
Orca pass (for those in Puget Sound)
Free snacks, drinks and espresso (Seattle office)