Principal Drone Developer

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing startup in the nuclear and energy space creating a never before seen fleet-scale approach to building nuclear reactors. Through its design-once, build-many approach and coalition building across communities, regulators, and financial stakeholders, The Nuclear Company is committed to delivering safe and reliable electricity at the lowest cost, while catalyzing the nuclear industry toward rapid development in America and globally.

About The Role

The Nuclear Company is seeking an exceptional and highly experienced

Principal Drone Developer

to join our innovative team.

As a Principal Drone Developer, you will be a visionary technical leader responsible for the end-to-end design, development, and deployment of cutting-edge drone systems specifically tailored for the unique challenges and stringent requirements of the nuclear energy industry. You will drive the integration of advanced sensors, intelligent flight control systems, and data processing pipelines, ensuring unparalleled precision, reliability, and safety for critical inspection, monitoring, and mapping applications within nuclear facilities. This role demands deep technical expertise, a meticulous attention to detail, and a profound commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities Drone System Architecture & Development:

- Lead the architectural design and development of custom drone platforms, including hardware selection, integration, and software development for flight control, navigation, and payload management.

- Design and implement robust communication systems for real-time data transmission and command & control in challenging industrial environments, potentially including radiation zones.

- Optimize drone performance, endurance, and autonomy for specific nuclear operational needs (e.g., internal reactor inspections, external facility monitoring, waste management areas).

Sensor Integration & Data Pipelines

- Integrate and calibrate a variety of advanced sensors relevant to nuclear applications (e.g., radiation detectors, LiDAR, thermal cameras, high-resolution visual cameras, gas sensors).

- Develop efficient data acquisition, processing, and analysis pipelines to extract actionable insights from drone-collected data, interfacing with existing data platforms (e.g., Palantir Foundry).

- Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and secure transmission.

Flight Control & Autonomy

- Develop and refine autonomous navigation, path planning, and obstacle avoidance algorithms for safe and precise operation within complex and potentially GPS-denied environments inside nuclear facilities.

- Implement robust fail-safes and emergency protocols to ensure safety and prevent interference with critical plant operations.

Regulatory Compliance & Safety

- Ensure all drone development, operations, and data handling practices strictly comply with FAA regulations (e.g., Part 107, waivers), NRC requirements for nuclear facilities, and internal safety protocols.

- Lead risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for drone operations in sensitive and potentially hazardous nuclear environments (e.g., radiation exposure, confined spaces).

- Contribute to the development of operational procedures and training programs for drone pilots and maintenance staff.

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

- Serve as the primary technical expert for drone development, providing authoritative guidance, strategic insight, and mentorship to junior developers and cross-functional teams.

- Drive research and adoption of emerging drone technologies, AI for autonomous operations, and sensor advancements.

- Lead technical reviews, provide critical analysis, and ensure the technical integrity and performance of all drone solutions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Collaborate closely with operations, engineering, cybersecurity, and regulatory affairs teams to define requirements, integrate drone solutions into workflows, and ensure successful deployment.

Experience

- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

- 10+ years of progressive experience in robotics, UAS/drone development, or embedded systems engineering. - Minimum of 5+ years of hands-on, expert-level experience in developing and deploying drone hardware, firmware, and software for industrial applications.

- Proven experience working in the nuclear energy industry or another highly regulated, safety-critical industrial sector (e.g., aerospace, defense, oil & gas), with a strong understanding of operational challenges and compliance.

- Expertise in flight control systems, autonomous navigation, and sensor fusion.

- Strong proficiency in programming languages relevant to robotics and embedded systems (e.g., C++, Python, Rust).

- Experience with ROS (Robot Operating System) or similar robotics frameworks.

- Hands-on experience with various drone platforms and payload integrations.

- UAS/Drone Hardware & Software Development

- Embedded Systems & Firmware

- Flight Control & Autonomous Navigation

- Sensor Integration (Lidar, Thermal, Radiation, Optical)

- Data Acquisition & Processing

- Robotics Operating System (ROS)

- C++, Python, or Rust

- FAA Part 107 certification or ability to obtain.

- Excellent Problem-Solving & Analytical Abilities for complex, real-world challenges.

- Strong Communication (written and verbal) & Collaboration Skills.

- Deep understanding of safety-critical systems and regulatory compliance.

Preferred Qualifications

- Direct experience with drone operations or development in environments with radiation or confined spaces.

- Experience with AI/ML for computer vision or autonomous decision-making on drones.

- Knowledge of nuclear power plant systems and inspection methodologies.

- Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices for UAS.

Benefits

- Competitive compensation packages

- 401k with company match

- Medical, dental, vision plans

- Generous vacation policy, plus holidays

Estimated Starting Salary Range

The estimated starting salary range for this role is $198,000 - $228,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a semi-monthly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company’s discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role.

EEO Statement

The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.