Machine Learning Engineer, Autonomy

About the company

Heven AeroTech builds hydrogen fuel cell-powered, long-endurance unmanned aerial systems for defense, public safety, and commercial operators.

About this role

<p><strong>Title:</strong> Machine Learning Engineer, Autonomy <br><strong>Company:</strong> Heven AeroTech<br><strong>Location:</strong> Bingen, Washington or Sterling, Virginia <br><strong>FLSA:</strong>&nbsp;Exempt<br><strong><br>About Our Company:</strong><br>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.</p> <p>We believe great teams are built on individuals who are <strong>humble, hungry, and smart</strong>—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.</p> <p><strong>Role Summary:</strong><br>Reporting to the Head of Mission Systems and Software, the Machine Learning Engineer - Autonomy develops and deploys machine learning and autonomy capabilities for Heven AeroTech uncrewed aircraft systems. The role focuses on practical UAS autonomy, including perception, tracking, sensor fusion, mission-level decision making, planning, and integration with flight-control, mission-system, onboard-compute, and payload interfaces. This engineer works closely with other Machine Learning Engineers, Platform Engineers, Flight Test, and aircraft engineering teams to take autonomy capabilities from development through simulation, integration, ground test, and flight test.</p> <p><strong>Essential Responsibilities:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Develop, integrate, and deploy machine learning and autonomy capabilities for uncrewed aircraft, with emphasis on reliable operation on real aircraft and onboard compute.</li> <li>Develop mission-level autonomous behaviors using appropriate combinations of state machines, behavior trees, planners, optimization methods, deterministic logic, and machine learning.</li> <li>Develop and integrate perception capabilities including object detection, classification, tracking, scene understanding, sensor fusion, and geospatial reasoning.</li> <li>Integrate autonomy software with autopilots, companion computers, mission computers, sensors, payloads, data links, and GCS/C2 systems while maintaining clear interfaces with flight-control functions.</li> <li>Develop production-quality C++ and Python software for real-time and near-real-time execution, including optimization for NVIDIA GPU and embedded edge-compute platforms.</li> <li>Develop and use simulation, SIL, HIL, bench-test, and automated test environments to evaluate autonomy behavior and reduce risk prior to flight.</li> <li>Support aircraft integration, ground test, and flight test of autonomy capabilities, including analysis of logs and test data to characterize performance and drive improvements.</li> <li>Collaborate across Heven AeroTech with Machine Learning Engineers, Platform Engineers, Flight Test, avionics, electrical, mechanical, and other engineering teams.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Qualifications &amp; Experience:</strong></p> <p><strong>Required:</strong></p> <ul> <li>BA/BS degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.</li> <li>2-5 years of experience developing and deploying machine learning or autonomy software on robotic, autonomous, or UAS platforms.</li> <li>Strong C++ and Python development skills, including Linux-based development and modern machine learning frameworks.</li> <li>Working knowledge of perception, sensor integration, autonomous decision making or planning, and real-time system integration.</li> <li>Professional working proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required to perform the responsibilities of this role.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Direct experience with UAS autonomy, aircraft integration, or flight test.</li> <li>Experience with NVIDIA edge compute, CUDA/TensorRT, ROS 2, MAVLink, or comparable robotics and vehicle interfaces.</li> <li>Aerospace or defense experience and eligibility to obtain a DoD Secret clearance.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Physical Requirements:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Ability to work effectively in a standard office, engineering laboratory, aircraft integration, hangar, and outdoor flight-test environment.</li> <li>Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, reach, and work around aircraft, ground-support equipment, test equipment, and computing hardware for extended periods as required.</li> <li>Ability to lift, carry, and position equipment and components weighing up to 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.</li> <li>Ability to safely work in outdoor environments and varying weather conditions during ground and flight-test activities.</li> <li>Ability to work around aircraft systems, electrical equipment, rotating equipment, batteries, and other laboratory/flight-test hazards while following applicable safety procedures and PPE requirements.</li> <li>Ability to visually inspect equipment, read computer displays, instrumentation, schematics, logs, and test data, with or without reasonable accommodation.</li> <li>Ability to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings, or occasional weekends, when required to support aircraft integration, ground testing, or flight-test operations.</li> <li>Ability and willingness to travel to company facilities, customer sites, and/or designated flight-test locations as required by the position.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Benefits Overview:</strong>&nbsp;<br>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 includ