About Us
STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments.
We're focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems - not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe - today.
About the team
Our perception team is responsible for the "eyes and inner ear" of STARK's unmanned aerial vehicles. We are a multidisciplinary group of hardware, optical, and software engineers dedicated to integrating cutting-edge sensors into resource-constrained platforms. As a member of this team, you will collaborate closely with mechanical designers and autonomy engineers in a fast-paced, hands-on environment. Together, we ensure our UAVs can reliably navigate and perform in the most demanding and extreme conditions.
Your mission
As a Sensor Systems Engineer, you will be the architect of our platforms' physical perception systems, focusing heavily on the integration of EO/IR cameras, IMUs, and Lidar. You will take ownership of the entire hardware lifecycle, from defining optical specifications to debugging high-speed electrical interfaces in the lab. Your ultimate goal is to deliver highly optimized, ruggedized sensor payloads that push the limits of Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP).
Responsibilities
Evaluate and manage technical relationships with external sensor and optics suppliers, reviewing complex datasheets to ensure components meet strict mission parameters.
Define core optical specifications (e.g., focal length, Field of View, MTF) leveraging a deep understanding of optical physics and system-level requirements.
Own the end-to-end physical and electronic integration of EO/IR cameras, IMUs, lenses, and gimbals into our platforms.
Use C++ code to interface directly with sensor SDKs and ensure robust data flow to the embedded compute modules.
Script hardware tests, automate optical lab equipment, and analyze sensor data pipelines utilizing C++ and Python.
Execute intrinsic and extrinsic calibration routines to align IMUs with optical axes.
Navigate complex design trade-offs with cross-functional teams to balance optical resolution against strict weight, thermal, and power constraints.
Qualifications
A degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechatronics, Physics, or a closely related field.
Deep understanding of applied optics, including lens selection, camera architectures, sensor formats, and radiometric performance.
Experience handling hardware suppliers, vetting vendor specifications, and driving technical procurement decisions.
Strong foundational knowledge of imaging systems (EO and IR cameras) and Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs).
Proven hands-on experience using hardware diagnostic tools (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters) to debug low-level hardware issues.
Practical programming experience writing C++ for hardware interfacing and Python for test automation.
Nice to have
Familiarity with high-speed video interfaces such as MIPI CSI-2, GMSL, or FPD-Link.
Experience using optical lab equipment (collimators, calibration targets) or conducting environmental testing (shock, vibration, thermal).
Familiarity with ROS2.
Previous experience working in the defence, aerospace, or autonomous vehicle sectors.
