Founding Engineer, Robotics and Flight Software

BackIMPACT DronesFounding Engineer, Robotics and Flight SoftwareSan Francisco, CAFull-timeVisa SponsorshipAbout the roleWe are Jasper and Alessandro, the founders of Impact Drones (YC S26). We are hiring our founding engineer: the person who owns the software that decides, launches and guides an interceptor when a hostile drone comes for a data center, a refinery, an airport or a power grid. 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 our interceptors: HUNTER, a kinetic quadcopter in combat in Ukraine against Shahed-class drones; WEAVER, which catches drones intact in a net; and SABLE, our turbojet interceptor.

We integrate radars and own the software. First LOIs signed with defense and data-center customers. What you will own Our response software: the path from a radar track to an interceptor in the air. Flight software on HUNTER and WEAVER. Container integration: sensors, launch bays and the operator screen. Field testing at the range, and the call on what is ready to fly. Hiring and leading the next engineers.

What you bring Software you shipped onto real hardware that flew, not only in simulation. Strong C++ (or Rust) on embedded or real-time systems, plus Python. Depth in flight software, robotics or embedded systems. Field tests you ran yourself, and the fixes that came out of them. Bonus points You fly FPV or build quads, and have worked in PX4, ArduPilot or Betaflight. Counter-UAS, defense or aerospace experience.

You have hired and led engineers. Compensation Base salary: $140,000 to $180,000 per year. Equity: 0.5% to 1.25%, 4-year vesting with a 1-year cliff. Where we work On-site in San Francisco, CA, with regular field testing at outdoor ranges. How to apply Apply here on Work at a Startup. Put one line at the top of your resume: the hardest thing you built that flew, with a link (repo, video or flight log).

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 or eligible for any required export authorization. Impact Drones is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in line with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.About IMPACT DronesIMPACT builds autonomous interceptor drones that ship in sealed containers.

The box sits at the site it protects, data centers, power grids, airports, bases, with no crew on the pad. When sensors cue a hostile drone, an interceptor pierces its own frangible lid, launches, and rams the target, guided by onboard vision that keeps working when GPS is jammed. Legacy effectors cost $1M+ per shot against $30k threats; ours cost less than the threat and scale with the swarm, the same class of interceptor already downing Shahed drones over Ukraine.

Sites subscribe to protection instead of buying missiles, hardware, reloads and monitoring included: Air Defense as a Service. 180M+ USD in signed letters of intent.Required skillsC++Other roles at IMPACT DronesIntegration Engineer, Radar and Drone Software (Counter-UAS)San Francisco, CAFull-timeAutonomy Engineer, Interceptor DronesSan Francisco, CAFull-timeInterested?Let me introduce you to the founders.Skip the processJob detailsSalary$140,000 - $180,000Equity0.5% - 1.25%LocationSan Francisco, CAExperience3+ yearsCompanyNameIMPACT DronesIndustryAITeam Size2View profileFundingLast stageSeedInvestorsY CombinatorFoundersAFAlessandro FiumeCo-founderJLJasper LortijeCo-founder & CEOWhat happens next.No applications, no recruiter spam.

Just the intro.01Confirm the fitA few questions to make sure this role is the right shape for you. Two minutes.02I pitch you to the companyI write the intro, send it to the founder, and handle the back-and-forth.03A meeting lands on your calendarIf they’re a yes, I book the chat. You show up — that’s the whole job-hunt.