About North Vector Dynamics

North Vector Dynamics is a Canadian defense technology company developing next-generation counter-UAS, short-range air defense, and hypersonic systems. Backed by Defence Research and Development Canada and global industry partners, we are redefining modern air defense with modular, low-cost, and sovereign technologies.

We are seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to adapt and optimize flight control firmware for our proprietary hardware, enabling the development of cutting-edge UAV systems at the core of our defense platforms.

Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Canada and eligible for registration under the Controlled Goods Program and a federal security clearance.

Key Responsibilities

Firmware Development

• Customize and integrate PX4 firmware for NVD’s proprietary flight controller boards.
• Develop and debug device drivers for sensors, communication modules, and other peripherals.

Optimization & Testing

• Optimize firmware for performance, power efficiency, and memory usage on resource-constrained platforms.
• Conduct unit, integration, and flight testing to ensure stability and reliability.

Hardware Integration

• Collaborate with hardware engineers to bring up new boards, troubleshoot integration issues, and ensure tight coupling between hardware and software.

Feature Implementation

• Design and implement new flight control features and algorithms.
• Validate performance in real-world conditions, including autonomous system behaviors.

Documentation & Process

• Maintain clear, comprehensive documentation of codebases, interfaces, and development processes.
• Contribute to continuous integration pipelines and automated test infrastructure.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Proven experience with embedded C/C++ programming.
• Hands-on experience with PX4 or ArduPilot firmware.
• Proficiency with microcontrollers (e.g., STM32, ESP32) and peripherals (I2C, SPI, UART).
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills, using tools such as JTAG/SWD debuggers, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.
• Experience with Git for version control.
• Passion for autonomous systems, drones, and robotics.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS), especially NuttX.
• Knowledge of flight dynamics and control theory.
• Familiarity with schematics and PCB layouts.
• Experience with continuous integration (CI), automated testing, and simulation frameworks (e.g., Gazebo, SITL/HITL).
• Active contributor to open-source flight control projects.
• Comfortable in a startup environment: adaptable, proactive, and collaborative.

Why Join NVD?

• Directly contribute to building Canada’s next generation of air defense and a career-defining network in the defense industry.
• Opportunity to expand into technical leadership as the engineering team scales.
• Collaborate with hardware, autonomy, and systems teams on end-to-end UAV development.
• Join a fast-moving, innovative team anchored in Canadian sovereignty, with global reach and the flexibility of a startup environment.