Junior R&D Software Engineering Role
Company: SKYLD Security and Defence Ltd
Location: Hybrid – Cyprus – Greece
Employment Type: Full-time
About SKYLD
SKYLD Security and Defence Ltd is a Cyprus-based ICT and innovation company active in European and national research and development programmes across defence, security, civil protection, critical infrastructure, and other dual-use technology sectors. Working with partners from industry, academia and public-sector organisations, SKYLD designs, develops and demonstrates advanced operational solutions involving unmanned and autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, command-and-control and ISR applications, software and systems engineering, data-driven technologies and the integration of these technologies into demanding real-world environments.
The Role
We are looking for a Junior Software Developer / Junior R&D Software Engineer with a strong interest in UAVs, autonomous systems and systems-oriented software development. The candidate will support SKYLD’s technical team in the design, development, integration, testing and documentation of software across our research, innovation and technology projects – from UAVs and other unmanned platforms to AI, command-and-control and data-driven applications.
The role suits a recent graduate, early-career developer What matters is motivation, willingness to learn and relevant knowledge from academic work, personal projects, internships or practical experience. Hands-on UAV experience is desirable but not essential; a basic understanding of UAV systems and a solid programming foundation are expected. The role is not limited to one technology stack: we want someone who can grow with the company, from prototypes and internal tools towards more advanced development, with responsibility matched to the candidate’s skills, maturity and technical potential.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain software components for UAVs and other unmanned or autonomous systems.
- Write clean, structured and maintainable code, applying good software-engineering practices such as code reviews and version control.
- Integrate software with onboard computers, sensors, payloads, flight-control and ground-based components, as well as with APIs and databases.
- Contribute to mission-support, telemetry, data-processing, system-monitoring and communication functions, using live or recorded vehicle, navigation and sensor data.
- Test, debug and technically validate integrated software and hardware systems.
- Contribute to R&D prototypes and demonstrators, including selected AI, machine-learning, computer-vision, image-processing and large-language-model activities.
- Document technical work, contribute to technical notes and internal reports, and participate in integration activities, trials and demonstrations with engineers and project partners.
Essential Requirements
Candidates should have, or be working towards, a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer or Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Automation and Control, or another relevant technical discipline. Equivalent demonstrated technical capability will also be considered.
- Good working knowledge of at least one relevant programming language, preferably Python, C or C++.
- Understanding of core software-development practices, including software architecture, testing, debugging and version control.
- Understanding of UAV or unmanned-system architecture and its main components – sensors, onboard computing, flight-control and ground-control systems, and communication links.
- Basic familiarity or practical exposure to at least some UAV, robotics, simulation, Linux or embedded-development environments, gained through university work, internships, personal projects, lab work or professional experience. Relevant examples include open-source flight-controller or autopilot ecosystems such as ArduPilot or PX4; robotics and simulation tools such as ROS/ROS 2, Gazebo, Isaac Sim / Isaac Lab or Webots; Linux-based operating systems such as Ubuntu; virtualization or containerization tools such as Docker and VirtualBox; and embedded or edge-computing platforms such as Raspberry Pi, Raspberry Pi AI HAT, NVIDIA Jetson, Arduino, ESP or similar platforms.
- Ability to read technical documentation, understand technical interfaces, analyse problems and translate requirements into practical software and integration tasks.
- Good written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate clearly, collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team, work responsibly on assigned tasks and contribute positively to shared project objectives.
- The ideal candidate should possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively within a team-oriented environment. They should be able to work efficiently and productively, contributing positively to both individual tasks and shared team objectives.
Desirable Experience
- Experience with UAVs, robotics or autonomous systems.
- Experience developing software that interacts with sensors, embedded devices or other physical systems – preferably in Linux – or that processes telemetry, navigation, image, video or other sensor data.
- Exposure to artificial intelligence, machine learning or large-language-model development and training.
- Participation in research or technology-development projects, such as Horizon Europe or European Defence Fund programmes.
- Prompting skills and a high level of proficiency in working with different Large Language Model (LLM) platforms are also considered particularly important, including the ability to use these tools effectively for professional and task-oriented purposes.
Candidates are not expected to meet every desirable criterion: we are primarily looking for a capable junior developer with a sound technical foundation and the potential to grow into a strong R&D software engineer.
What SKYLD Offers
- A full-time position with a hybrid working model in Cyprus or Greece.
- Practical involvement in UAV, autonomous-system, AI and defence-technology projects across European and national R&D programmes, including prototypes, integration trials and demonstrations.
- Mentoring, technical guidance and real opportunities to take on more responsibility and grow professionally.
- Competitive remuneration based on qualifications and experience, within a demanding but supportive working environment.
How to Apply
Send your CV and a short cover letter to rbATskyld.com.cy. Where available, include links or brief information about relevant university work, personal projects, software repositories or UAV-related activities.
Email subject: Application – Junior Software Developer – UAV & Autonomous Systems
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Applicants’ personal data will be processed solely for recruitment purposes and in accordance with applicable data-protection legislation.
