---
title: 'UAV Software and Controls Engineer at SE3 Labs'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/uav-software-and-controls-engineer-se3-labs-munich-d5ctny0ksmj1'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-08'
---

# UAV Software and Controls Engineer at SE3 Labs

- **Company:** SE3 Labs
- **Location:** Munich, Germany
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-20
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/se3/5caf102c-1615-4794-a500-21c9ce7d0422

## Job description

🚀 Join SE3 Labs as UAV Software and Controls Engineer Lead the autonomy stack of our systems. Starting from custom firmware all the way to GCS plugins.

## About SE3

SE3 Labs is building Spatial AI by combining 3D computer vision with large language models (LLMs). We believe the ability to reason about and act within physical space is foundational to unlocking the next generation of automation, from construction to smart infrastructure, and ultimately, defence. Now, we’re building the physical platform to bring Spatial AI to life. That means high-performance, real-world robotic systems (starting with UAVs), and we’re looking for a skilled, hands-on engineer who’s ready to bring these machines into the real world.

## About the Role

As Drone Software and Controls Engineer, you will be working on the full-stack avionics development of our UAV fleet. From selecting the components to tuning and configuring the UAV, all the way to GCS development and autonomy orchestration. You will be the brain behind the fleet. You will be in the middle of the software and hardware team, mastering the integration of the two fields and bringing the final product to life.

## What You’ll Work On

- Architecture & Plan: Define and develop schematics for communication and integration of the software stack across all our systems. How does UAV A get a position from UGV B? How does Payload 1 inform UAV C that it needs to land?
- Prototype & Iterate: Build, rework, and test hardware with speed and precision, both in simulation and in flight. Develop better simulations and tools for faster iteration.
- Optimize & Troubleshoot: Analyse the full flow of information via simulation and real-world testing, including UAV to UAV, UAV to GCS or UAV to payload.
- Document with Purpose: Keep clear records of requirements, tradeoffs, test results, tuning procedures, and implementation rationale
- Validate in the Loop: Support hardware-in-the-loop and environmental validation workflows to ensure rugged, reliable implementations.

## Your Profile

- You hold a B.Sc. or higher in Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline
- You bring 3+ years of hands-on experience in avionics development, from component selection and firmware design to full system integration
- You’re confident with lab equipment (multimeters, scopes, spectrum analyzers, near-field probes) and use them to diagnose and debug with purpose
- You have a deep understanding of Autonomy principles and know how to develop and deal with low level issues in a UAV fleet.
- You’ve worked with PX4 and ArduPilot and know where to go in the code to get what you need.
- You’re experienced with QGC and know how to customise it to your will.
- You’re familiar with hardware-in-the-loop and environmental testing, and understand how designs fail in the wild
- You speak fluent English; German is a strong plus
- Most importantly, you’re structured, fast-moving, and mission-driven. You don’t wait for perfection. You iterate until it works. You love building things that last and love making them fly majestically..

Especially Valued Bonus Skills

- Architecture and software development skills.
- ArduPilot, PX4, or QGC open source contributor.
- Flying License A1-A3
- Experience with multi-vehicle coordination.

## Perks & Benefits

- Real Ownership: Get equity early, real stock options to participate directly in SE3’s growth
- Work Environment to Excel at: Find a high-quality and modern toolset, flat hierarchy and a skilled, driven team which will push the limits together with you
- 31 Paid Days Off: 30 vacation days plus your birthday off
- Well-being Access: Free membership to gyms, yoga, and wellness through EGYM Wellpass
- Team Offsites: We go on 2 company retreats per year, our last ones were in Italy and Greece
- Mentorship: Work closely with experienced engineers and get paired with a professional mentor to support your growth

Our Process

- Intro Call (30 min): Let’s get to know each other
- Technical Interview (45 min): (We will deep diver into your experience and the role)
- Coding Interview(1 hr): (with our external coding partners)
- One site trial/case (1.5h): let’s build and test a system together with our hardware team
- Team Dinner / Lunch: Meet the team and see whether it is a strong fit on both sides.

## About SE3 Labs

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: SE3 Labs builds next-generation spatial AI for autonomous systems, enabling machines to perceive, reason, and act autonomously in the physical world.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Pre-Seed stage; $3.2M total funding)
- **Headquarters**: Munich, Germany
- **Founded**: 2023
- **Founders**: Lukas Köstler (CEO), Simon Klenk (CTO), Daniel Cremers (CSO)

## Core Business
- Primary industry/industries: Defence technology, autonomous systems, spatial AI, computer vision
- Target customers: Defence organisations (e.g., German Bundeswehr), defence contractors, operators of unmanned aerial/ground systems (B2G/B2B)
- Mission or purpose: “Laying the foundation for a new generation of resilient, software-defined capabilities” and advancing Europe’s technological sovereignty through spatial intelligence.

## Products & Services
- **Spatial AI Platform**: A hardware-agnostic, on-edge software stack that combines navigation, perception, and AI reasoning. It provides:
  - **GNSS-denied navigation** (visual-inertial odometry, real-time map matching)
  - **Real-time 3D common operating picture** (semantic understanding, sub-metre localisation)
  - **Natural language swarm control** – one operator commands mixed aerial/ground swarms via spoken intent
  - **AI agents** that analyse the environment and reason over objects and movements in real time
  - **Sensor-to-shooter capability** – target-grade coordinate generation for coordinated action

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of $3.2M (conflicting reports: $3.15M per PitchBook) [linkedin.com](https://de.linkedin.com/company/se3-labs) [pitchbook.com](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/542367-37)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Lakestar, Seedcamp, EWOR, Sequoia Scout Fund, UnternehmerTUM Funding for Innovators, SDAC, Magnetic, TwinTrack Ventures, Plug and Play, founders of Flixbus and Ascending Technologies, EUDIS Business Accelerator
- **Growth Signals**: 150% YoY headcount growth (29 employees); active under contract with the German Bundeswehr; multiple defence contracts won; reduced sensor-to-shooter timeline “by an order of magnitude”; presence in Germany, UK, Singapore, Switzerland [tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/06/26/backed-by-lakestar-seedcamp-and-ewor-se3-unveils-spatial-ai-platform-for-autonomous-systems/)

## Competitive Advantages
- **World-class research foundation**: Founders and team from TU Munich, with over 400 scientific publications and 87,000+ citations; leadership in computer vision and AI (e.g., Daniel Cremers – Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize winner)
- **Hardware-agnostic, modular stack**: Integrates with any UAV/UGV or operates as full software stack; runs on-edge, resilient in contested environments
- **GNSS-denied capability**: Enables autonomous navigation and swarming where GPS is jammed or unavailable
- **Natural language interaction**: Lowers operator burden, turning one person into a force multiplier
- **Proven operational deployment**: Technology validated in live military exercises with the Bundeswehr, not just lab demos

## Strategic Focus
- **Defence & sovereign autonomy**: Scaling spatial AI for European defence, strengthening independence from non-European suppliers
- **Multi-domain expansion**: Currently focused on aerial and ground platforms; targeting mixed swarms and potentially maritime systems
- **Continuous operational validation**: Participating in field exercises and innovation centre demonstrations (e.g., Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub, Erding Innovation Centre)
- **Attracting top talent**: 15 open positions (as of mid-2026), including drone engineers, computer vision specialists, and test pilots

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven**: Work on cutting-edge AI that directly impacts national security and autonomous systems
- **Rapid growth**: 150% employee growth in the last year; small, agile team (~29 people) with room for impact
- **World-class peers**: Surround yourself with researchers and engineers from TU Munich, Nvidia, Tesla Autopilot, BMW, etc.
- **Open roles**: 15 active job postings including UAV Test Pilot, Drone Software and Controls Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer, Technical Project Manager, and more [linkedin.com](https://de.linkedin.com/company/se3-labs)
- **Location & hybrid**: Office in Munich (Ungererstraße 175) with remote/hybrid flexibility for some roles; international presence (UK, Singapore, Switzerland)
- **Perks**: Involvement in live field operations, access to top-tier research networks, and participation in defence innovation ecosystem

## Sources
1. [se3.ai](https://www.se3.ai/)
2. [linkedin.com](https://de.linkedin.com/company/se3-labs)
3. [pitchbook.com](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/542367-37)
4. [tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/06/26/backed-by-lakestar-seedcamp-and-ewor-se3-unveils-spatial-ai-platform-for-autonomous-systems/)
5. [se3.ai/careers](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/se3)

## Other roles at SE3 Labs

- [Senior Systems & Infrastructure Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-systems-infrastructure-engineer-se3-labs-munich-cp8gjx5rg9g3) — Munich, Germany
- [UI/UX Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/ui-ux-software-engineer-se3-labs-munich-caqcc8vam2xb) — Munich, Germany
- [Forward Deployed Engineer, Applied AI](https://feeny.ai/job/forward-deployed-engineer-applied-ai-se3-labs-munich-enspqvsgyzr3) — Munich, Germany
- [Technical Site Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-site-manager-se3-labs-munich-xrmwxa3zft62) — Munich, Germany
- [UAV / Robotics Integration Field Engineer - Hardware](https://feeny.ai/job/uav-robotics-integration-field-engineer-hardware-se3-labs-munich-q27tgtd3a01m) — Munich, Germany
- [Founding Drone & Avionics Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/founding-drone-avionics-technician-se3-labs-munich-4k4ecy9tjaxd) — Munich, Germany
- [UK Managing Director](https://feeny.ai/job/uk-managing-director-se3-labs-united-kingdom-jq3b06m6wvt3) — United Kingdom
- [Head of Finance](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-finance-se3-labs-munich-1e0ygn75vxhr) — Munich, Germany
- [Director - Mission Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/director-mission-operations-se3-labs-munich-bt0wyff610sn) — Munich, Germany
- [Head of Governmental Affairs & Communications](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-governmental-affairs-communications-se3-labs-berlin-hycyevg0zjza) — Berlin, Germany