Sr. Machine Learning Engineer, Autonomy

The posting, as Heven AeroTech wrote it

Title: Sr. Machine Learning Engineer, Autonomy
Company: Heven AeroTech
FLSA: Exempt
Reports To: Head of Mission Systems and Software

About Our Company

At Heven AeroTech (Heven), we don’t just believe in the power of people—we build our success on it. As a recognized leader in hydrogen-powered drones, we’ve earned recognition for creating a workplace where innovation thrives, collaboration is second nature, and every employee feels valued. Our culture is anchored in trust and a shared commitment to excellence.

We believe great teams are built on individuals who are humble, hungry, and smart—those who put team success first, take initiative to continuously improve, and demonstrate strong interpersonal awareness. At Heven, your voice matters, your ideas are heard, and your contributions make a tangible impact as you grow through hands-on experience and collaboration across the team.

Role Summary

Reporting to the Head of Mission Systems and Software, the Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Autonomy owns the technical development and delivery of machine learning and autonomy capabilities for Heven AeroTech uncrewed aircraft systems. The role requires an experienced engineer who can turn mission and operational needs into software requirements, architecture, implementation, and demonstrated aircraft capability.

The role covers perception, tracking, sensor fusion, mission-level decision making, planning, and integration with flight-control, mission-system, onboard-compute, and payload interfaces. This engineer leads assigned autonomy efforts from initial design through simulation, integration, ground test, and flight test, with responsibility for technical decisions, software quality, performance, and resolving issues across system interfaces.

This is a hands-on senior individual contributor position with technical leadership and mentorship responsibilities. The engineer provides guidance to junior and mid-level Machine Learning Engineers through design and code reviews, troubleshooting, and shared development and testing work. The role does not include direct personnel management responsibilities and works closely with Platform Engineers, Flight Test, and aircraft engineering teams.

Essential Responsibilities

• Own the technical execution of assigned autonomy capabilities, including requirements development, architecture, implementation, integration, verification, and delivery.
• Translate mission needs into defined autonomous behaviors, operating constraints, measurable performance requirements, and test acceptance criteria.
• Make and document technical tradeoffs across machine learning, deterministic logic, state machines, behavior trees, planners, and optimization methods based on mission needs, system constraints, and test evidence.
• Design and implement mission-level autonomous behaviors, including mission execution, replanning, contingency handling, and coordination with operator commands a

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Preferred

• Direct experience delivering UAS autonomy capabilities through aircraft integration and flight test.
• Experience with NVIDIA embedded platforms, CUDA, TensorRT, ROS 2, MAVLink, or comparable robotics and vehicle interfaces.
• Experience with EO and IR perception, target tracking, geolocation, or navigation under degraded sensor conditions.
• Experience with SIL/HIL environments, scenario-based testing, and regression testing of autonomous behaviors.
• Experience with model quantization, hardware-accelerated inference, and maintaining model performance across changes in sensors or operating conditions.
• Experience integrating autonomy with operator workflows, mission planning, and GCS/C2 systems.
• Aerospace or defense experience and eligibility to obtain a DoD Secret clearance.

Physical Requirements

• Organized, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining rigor and discipline
• Willing and able to perform field work (standing and walking for extended periods, carrying equipment, working outdoors in varying conditions)
• Willing to travel as needed for test events
• Ability to support flexible hours based on test schedules

Benefits Overview

Heven AeroTech offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the health, financial security, and overall well-being of our employees and their families. Benefits in protectional, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plans, paid time off/sick, and additional protections such as critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, and short- and long-term disability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Heven AeroTech is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Posted Salary Range:
$150,000 — $172,000 USD