Autonomy Engineer, Interceptor Drones

We are Jasper and Alessandro, the founders of Impact Drones (YC S26). We are hiring an autonomy engineer in Los Angeles to make SABLE, our jet interceptor, fly the intercept on its own: from a radar track, to the onboard camera, to terminal guidance. Jasper (aerospace engineer, MSc, TU Delft) has built drones for over a decade, including the Hannover Messe VTOL competition winner, and worked with special forces on the 2025 NATO Summit counter-drone plan; Alessandro (MSc, Columbia) built the pipeline behind our 176M USD in signed LOIs.

In March 2026, Iranian drones struck three AWS data centers in the UAE and Bahrain. Fiber-optic FPV drones cannot be jammed. The only thing that stops them is a physical intercept. That is what we build.

About Impact Drones
We sell Air Defense as a Service to civilian critical infrastructure. One container on site senses, decides and launches. It combines a sensor mast, our engagement software and 8 open launch bays built to our Open Launch Standard. The bays take SABLE, our jet interceptor, and third-party interceptors too. Interceptors change. The bay stays.

What you will own

• The handoff from the container's radar track to SABLE's onboard tracker.
• Onboard target detection, tracking, lock-on and terminal guidance for SABLE.
• Simulation, bench and flight tests that prove each change.

Your first 3 months

• Month one: your first guidance or control change for SABLE runs in simulation and on the bench.
• Month two: your onboard tracker locks a target drone in recorded EO and thermal video and hands it to guidance.
• Month three: at the range, your tracker takes the handoff from a live radar track and locks a target drone in flight.

What you bring

• Guidance, navigation or control code you wrote that flew on a real vehicle.
• Strong C++ on embedded or real-time systems.
• Solid GNC and state estimation fundamentals.
• You debug from flight logs, not only from simulation.

Bonus points

• You fly FPV, and have worked in PX4, ArduPilot or Betaflight source.
• Computer vision on embedded hardware.
• Interceptor, missile or counter-UAS experience.

Compensation

• Base salary: $110,000 to $160,000 per year.
• Equity: 0.25% to 0.45% in stock options, 4-year vesting with a 1-year cliff.

Where we work
On-site in Los Angeles, CA, with regular flight testing at outdoor ranges.

How to apply
Apply here and answer the one question on the form: the best guidance, control or autonomy result you flew, plus a link if you can share it. We read every application ourselves.

Jasper and Alessandro

This role may involve technical data subject to U.S. export controls (ITAR and EAR). Applicants must be U.S. persons (including U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees and asylees) or eligible for any required export authorization.

Impact Drones is an equal opportunity employer. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act and, where they apply, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.