Forward Deployed Engineer

About SPAICE

SPAICE is building the geospatial intelligence layer for autonomous vehicles operating where GNSS is unavailable, unreliable, or denied. Our Spatial AI enables drones and satellites to determine their position, understand their surroundings, and transform every detection into actionable, geo-referenced intelligence. From denied airspace on Earth to complex orbital environments, SPAICE delivers resilient navigation and persistent situational awareness in any condition.

At SPAICE, you’ll work on some of the hardest autonomy challenges across air and space, developing technology for GNSS-independent flight, orbital awareness, formation flying, and autonomous operations. You’ll work alongside a mission-driven team and leading aerospace and defence partners, turning advanced research into systems with a tangible impact on real-world missions.

About the Role

Autonomous drones operating in GPS-denied environments. Perception and navigation systems integrated into defence platforms. Spatial AI software deployed and validated during live field trials. Turning these capabilities into reliable operational systems requires more than strong technology. It requires engineers who can bridge the gap between our products, our customers, and the realities of deployment.

As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you’ll work in small, highly technical teams and take ownership of high-stakes customer projects from initial requirements through integration, deployment, testing, and operational delivery.

You’ll act as the technical bridge between SPAICE’s Spatial AI and autonomy technology and our customers’ real-world platforms and operating environments. Your work will span software engineering, system configuration, robotics integration, networking, hardware interfaces, field testing, and customer collaboration.

This is a hands-on role for someone who can move comfortably between writing production code, debugging systems in the field, designing integration architectures, and communicating directly with defence, aerospace, and government stakeholders.

What you might work on

• Space & defence missions. Deploy and operationalise SPAICE technology with defence organisations, aerospace companies, government customers, and platform manufacturers, from customer integration facilities to live operational environments.
• End-to-end system integration. Integrate SPAICE’s perception, navigation, and autonomy software with drones, satellites, robotic platforms, flight computers, sensors, autopilots, communication systems, and customer-built infrastructure.
• Software and systems engineering. Develop production-quality software, configure Linux-based systems, build deployment tooling, and troubleshoot issues across applications, operating systems, networks, and hardware interfaces.
• Customer platform integration. Bridge customer-built systems and SPAICE’s products through APIs, middleware, communication protocols, data pipelines, and custom software components.
• Deployment and field testing. Configure and validate systems on embedded computers and edge AI hardware, support flight and field trials, analyse system behaviour, and resolve technical problems under real operational constraints.

What we are looking for

• M.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Strong C++ and Python skills.
• Experience integrating and deploying complex software systems.
• Broad knowledge of Linux, networking, embedded systems, robotics, or hardware integration.
• Ability to debug across software, operating systems, sensors, networks, and hardware.
• Experience with simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or field trials.
• Strong problem-solving skills in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
• Excellent communication and customer-facing skills.
• Willingness to travel to customer and test sites.

Perks & Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and impact.
• Equity options – you will join us at the ground floor and share in the upside.
• Well‑being perks – access to premium gyms, climbing centers, and wellness programs.
• Team retreats & offsites – recent adventures include a half‑marathon in Formentera and a Los Angeles retreat during Oscars weekend.