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The Nuclear Company Logo

Principal Drone Developer

The Nuclear Company

$198,000 - $228,000
Aug 14, 2025
Seattle, WA, US • Columbia, SC, US • Remote, US
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The Nuclear Company is seeking to solve the business problem of safely and efficiently inspecting, monitoring, and mapping nuclear facilities through the development and deployment of cutting-edge drone systems tailored for the unique challenges and stringent requirements of the nuclear energy industry.

Requirements

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

Responsibilities

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

Other

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Direct experience with drone operations or development in environments with radiation or confined spaces.
  • Knowledge of nuclear power plant systems and inspection methodologies.
  • Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices for UAS.
  • Contribute to the development of operational procedures and training programs for drone pilots and maintenance staff.
  • Collaborate closely with operations, engineering, cybersecurity, and regulatory affairs teams to define requirements, integrate drone solutions into workflows, and ensure successful deployment.