Autopilot Engineer Jobs
Autopilot Engineer jobs are open across aerospace, defense, automotive, and robotics, from new-grad to principal and staff levels, with specializations in flight control systems, sensor fusion, and embedded systems software. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Autopilot Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 7+ Autopilot Engineer jobs
DESCRIPTION
Amazon Leo is an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Its mission is to bring fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Amazon Leo will help close the digital divide by delivering fast, affordable broadband to a wide range of customers, including consumers, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity.
Export Control Requirement
Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Key job responsibilities
Experience with distributed, multi-tiered systems, algorithms, and relational databases.
Experience in optimization mathematics such as linear programming and nonlinear optimization.
Ability to effectively articulate technical challenges and solutions.
Adept at handling ambiguous or undefined problems as well as ability to think abstractly.
Experience with Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS), Linux, System Integration, Networking, Operating Systems Kernels, Multi-threading, or Microprocessors and/or microcontrollers
Experience with Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS): C, C++, Embedded Development, Firmware, Device Driver, Linux, ARM, Bare-Metal, or Kernel
Experience with Linux: Embedded development, Firmware, Shell Scripting, Scripting Efficiency, or Linux, and C++
Experience with Networking: C, Embedded development, Firmware, Hardware, Memory Management, Computer Architecture, Computer Architecture, or Operating Systems
A day in the life
As a Software Development Engineer, you will play a crucial role in the development of services to support the automation of the Leo mission. You will work with a dynamic group of passionate engineers and collaborators across peer teams to identify automation needs, design novel solutions that meet customer requirements, and write software to automate key behaviors for our constellation's space and ground assets. You will be building low-latency, highly-scalable architecture to generate and execute our mission plans safely and effectively.
About the team
The Autopilot team builds software which supports the automated planning and execution of satellite activities, empowering humans to automate key tasks and take themselves out of the loop as we scale the Leo constellation. We own services that model spacecraft behaviors, predict future vehicle state, capture operational constraints on our system, and generate mission schedules that serve our customers while preserving vehicle health and safety.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 2+ years of non-internship design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Experience programming with at least one software programming language
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, WA, Redmond - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
Amazon Leo is an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Its mission is to bring fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Amazon Leo will help close the digital divide by delivering fast, affordable broadband to a wide range of customers, including consumers, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity.
Export Control Requirement
Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Key job responsibilities
Experience with distributed, multi-tiered systems, algorithms, and relational databases.
Experience in optimization mathematics such as linear programming and nonlinear optimization.
Ability to effectively articulate technical challenges and solutions.
Adept at handling ambiguous or undefined problems as well as ability to think abstractly.
Experience with Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS), Linux, System Integration, Networking, Operating Systems Kernels, Multi-threading, or Microprocessors and/or microcontrollers
Experience with Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS): C, C++, Embedded Development, Firmware, Device Driver, Linux, ARM, Bare-Metal, or Kernel
Experience with Linux: Embedded development, Firmware, Shell Scripting, Scripting Efficiency, or Linux, and C++
Experience with Networking: C, Embedded development, Firmware, Hardware, Memory Management, Computer Architecture, Computer Architecture, or Operating Systems
A day in the life
As a Software Development Engineer, you will play a crucial role in the development of services to support the automation of the Leo mission. You will work with a dynamic group of passionate engineers and collaborators across peer teams to identify automation needs, design novel solutions that meet customer requirements, and write software to automate key behaviors for our constellation's space and ground assets. You will be building low-latency, highly-scalable architecture to generate and execute our mission plans safely and effectively.
About the team
The Autopilot team builds software which supports the automated planning and execution of satellite activities, empowering humans to automate key tasks and take themselves out of the loop as we scale the Leo constellation. We own services that model spacecraft behaviors, predict future vehicle state, capture operational constraints on our system, and generate mission schedules that serve our customers while preserving vehicle health and safety.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 2+ years of non-internship design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Experience programming with at least one software programming language
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, WA, Redmond - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually
See All 7 Autopilot Engineer Jobs
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Find Autopilot Engineer JobsAutopilot Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Non-Profit & Social Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in autopilot engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in aerospace, electrical, or mechanical engineering
- Proficiency in MATLAB and Simulink for control system design and simulation
- Experience developing or tuning flight control algorithms such as PID or LQR
- Familiarity with embedded C or C++ for real-time flight software implementation
- Knowledge of hardware-in-the-loop testing environments and integration workflows
- Active or eligible-to-obtain Department of Defense security clearance preferred
Tips for Your Autopilot Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to control systems
Autopilot engineers are evaluated on control theory depth, so your resume should call out specific algorithms you've implemented, such as PID, LQR, or model predictive control, alongside the platforms or vehicles they ran on. Generic software experience won't move you forward.
Highlight simulation and hardware-in-the-loop work
Many hiring teams screen for hands-on experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing or simulation environments like MATLAB, Simulink, or ROS. Name the tools, the vehicle types, and the fidelity levels you worked with so reviewers can immediately gauge fit.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists autopilot engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by vehicle domain
Job titles and required skills shift considerably between fixed-wing, rotary, ground vehicle, and maritime autopilot work. When you search, filter by industry or scan the job description for the vehicle type to avoid applying to roles built around a domain you haven't worked in.
Prepare for a technical design exercise
Most autopilot engineer interviews include a take-home or on-site design problem, often asking you to propose a control loop architecture for a constrained scenario. Practice talking through your design decisions out loud, because interviewers care as much about your reasoning as your final answer.
Negotiate around clearance and relocation timing
Defense-focused autopilot roles often require a security clearance, which affects your start date if you don't already hold one. Raise clearance status and relocation logistics during the offer stage, not after, so both sides can align on a realistic timeline before you sign.
Autopilot Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most autopilot engineers?
Amazon, Tesla, and Infravision are hiring the most autopilot engineers right now, with openings concentrated in Washington, Texas, and Arizona, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially active in aerospace primes, autonomous vehicle programs, and defense contractors developing unmanned systems.
How many autopilot engineer jobs are remote?
About 0% of autopilot engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on hardware and lab requirements that many of these roles carry. Software-heavy sub-disciplines such as flight software architecture and simulation engineering tend to have the highest share of remote or hybrid arrangements.
How do you become an autopilot engineer?
Start with a degree in aerospace, electrical, or mechanical engineering with coursework in dynamics and control theory. Build practical skills in MATLAB, Simulink, and embedded programming through coursework projects or internships. Gain hands-on experience through capstone projects, research labs, or entry-level roles in robotics or avionics, then deepen specialization in a specific vehicle domain over time.
How do you get hired as an autopilot engineer with little experience?
Focus on demonstrating control systems fundamentals through personal or academic projects, such as building a stabilized quadrotor or implementing an autopilot in a simulator. Document your design decisions, testing methodology, and results in a portfolio. Entry-level roles at startups in the drone or autonomous ground vehicle space are often more accessible than primes and can provide the domain experience that leads to more senior positions.
What does the autopilot engineer interview process look like?
Most processes begin with a recruiter screen followed by a technical phone interview covering control theory fundamentals, algorithm selection, and debugging approaches. A take-home or on-site design exercise is common, often presenting a constrained control problem for you to architect and explain. Final rounds typically include panel interviews with engineers and a system design discussion focused on sensor integration, failure modes, or safety margins.
Where can I find and apply to autopilot engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to autopilot engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your background, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 7 Autopilot Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Autopilot Engineer Jobs