Sensors Systems Engineer (m/f/d)

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.

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.

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).

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.