The ideal candidate brings deep experience in robotics, autonomous systems, motion planning, decision-making, and high-performance software development, with the ability to translate advanced algorithms into deployable capabilities. This is a highly technical, hands-on position that will work across software, simulation, hardware, and flight-test teams.
See below for abbreviated job responsibilities and requirements. If after reviewing, you are interested in learning more about this or other engineering opportunities, please apply with your updated resume ASAP.
Title: Senior Staff Engineer, Autonomy Behaviors
Location: Washington, D.C.; Boston, MA; San Diego, CA; or San Mateo, CA
Work Environment: Onsite
Type: Contract
Compensation:$120-170/hr DOE
Clearance: Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance
Responsibilities
- Design and develop advanced autonomy algorithms that enable unmanned aircraft and other robotic platforms to execute complex missions with limited human intervention.
- Build high-performance software supporting autonomous planning, decision-making, mission behaviors, and execution in dynamic operating environments.
- Develop and validate behavior architectures supporting capabilities such as multi-agent coordination, reconnaissance, tactical decision-making, survivability, and mission execution.
- Combine traditional autonomy and controls techniques with modern machine learning approaches to develop robust and adaptable autonomous behaviors.
- Apply concepts including motion planning, optimization, aircraft dynamics, trajectory generation, information fusion, and decision-making to operational autonomy challenges.
- Partner closely with perception, planning, simulation, systems, hardware, and flight-test engineering teams to integrate autonomy software onto real-world platforms.
- Use simulation environments and mission-level testing to evaluate algorithms prior to deployment and identify opportunities for performance improvement.
- Analyze system telemetry, mission logs, and test results to troubleshoot issues, identify root causes, and improve autonomy performance.
- Support integration activities, flight demonstrations, field testing, and other operational validation events.
- Research and prototype emerging autonomy technologies while contributing technical direction to future capabilities and product roadmaps.
- Adapt autonomy solutions to meet evolving program requirements, customer needs, and operational environments.
- Provide technical leadership and guidance across complex autonomy initiatives while promoting sound engineering practices and reusable technical approaches.
- Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical discipline; equivalent practical experience may also be considered.
- Typically 10+ years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree, 9+ years with a Master's degree, or 7+ years with a PhD.
- Advanced programming skills in C++ and Python.
- Experience developing software for real-time or performance-sensitive systems, including familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
- Significant hands-on experience with robotics or autonomous systems, particularly in areas such as motion planning, behavior modeling, autonomous decision-making, controls, or mission autonomy.
- Strong experience developing algorithms for unmanned systems, with particular emphasis on aerial platforms.
- Experience using modeling and simulation environments for autonomy development, testing, and validation; familiarity with tools such as AFSIM or NGTS is highly desirable.
- Strong understanding of software integration concepts, interfaces, system architecture, and testing within complex multidisciplinary systems.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues and optimize system-level performance.
- Strong communication skills and experience collaborating across multidisciplinary engineering organizations.
- Ability to travel approximately 10–15% for integration activities, customer engagements, testing, and demonstrations.
- Must meet applicable U.S. Government requirements to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
- Experience incorporating machine learning or reinforcement learning into autonomous systems.
- Background developing collaborative autonomy, swarm behaviors, multi-agent coordination, or distributed decision-making systems.
- Experience developing tactical autonomy capabilities for U.S. Government or defense-related programs.
- Exposure to autonomous behaviors spanning multiple operational domains, including air, ground, or maritime platforms.
- Hands-on participation in flight testing, live demonstrations, field exercises, or operational system integration.
- Familiarity with UCI and OMS standards.
Estimated Min Rate: $112.00
Estimated Max Rate: $160.00
What’s In It for You?
We welcome you to be a part of the largest and legendary global staffing companies to meet your career aspirations. Yoh’s network of client companies has been employing professionals like you for over 65 years in the U.S., UK and Canada. Join Yoh’s extensive talent community that will provide you with access to Yoh’s vast network of opportunities and gain access to this exclusive opportunity available to you. Benefit eligibility is in accordance with applicable laws and client requirements. Benefits include:
- Medical, Prescription, Dental & Vision Benefits (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
- Health Savings Account (HSA) (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
- Life & Disability Insurance (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
- MetLife Voluntary Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- 401K Retirement Savings Plan
- Direct Deposit & weekly epayroll
- Referral Bonus Programs
- Certification and training opportunities
Note: Any pay ranges displayed are estimations. Actual pay is determined by an applicant's experience, technical expertise, and other qualifications as listed in the job description. All qualified applicants are welcome to apply.
Yoh, a Day & Zimmermann company, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Visit https://www.yoh.com/applicants-with-disabilities to contact us if you are an individual with a disability and require accommodation in the application process.
For California applicants, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. All of the material job duties described in this posting are job duties for which a criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment.
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