Software Engineer - Disruptor Capabilities (AU)

About the role

DroneShield is seeking a Software Engineer to join the team in Sydney. The primary focus is developing and optimising DroneShield's RFAI-ATK Disruptor Capability - building Python based systems software that spans API design through to low-level hardware control, including interfacing with FPGA and RF subsystems. This is not traditional embedded development, but it is deeply hardware-adjacent, bridging the full vertical from service interfaces to device-level control.

You'll join a team of 5-10 engineers, working closely with ML/AI, Data Science, RF and infrastructure teams to drive real-world disruption performance improvements. The work is a mix of building new capabilities and optimising existing systems across research, development, testing, and device production. You'll be expected to take ownership of subsystems or product areas and lead technical decisions within the team, while raising the bar for those around you through quality code and sound engineering practice. The role is primarily desk-based, though you'll be working with software that ultimately controls physical hardware in the field.

We're looking for experience with modern Python development practices including type-safe data modelling, async programming, test-driven development, API contract definition and serialisation, SQL databases, and packaging and dependency management. Familiarity with interface design patterns and writing clean, maintainable abstractions is valued. Knowledge of hardware interfaces, RF systems, or signal processing concepts is a plus - whether from professional experience or personal interest. You don't need to tick every box - if you're a strong Python engineer with solid fundamentals and a willingness to learn, we'd still like to hear from you.

Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations 

• Implement new software features from concept to delivery, for example gathering user requirement to diagnosing issues in production.
• Interface with Front-End and API teams
• Utilize leading industry practice to deliver and maintain robust and efficient APIs for seamless integration with external and internal systems.
• Advance the development of software architecture design processes within the team. Ensure software is designed for reliability, and performance on resource constrained targets.
• Bring a test-driven development mindset
• Documentation of software architecture and processes
• Work with the engineering team to ensure reliable and robust end to end system operation
• Cross-disciplinary communication and requirements gathering across RF, hardware, firmware, test, and operations teams.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to team members

Qualifications, Experience and Skills 

• BS degree in Computer Science, Mechatronics, Electronic Engineer or similar technical field of study or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum 4-5 years’ experience in related roles. Roles could include:
• • Software Engineer
  • Embedded Software Engineer
  • Firmware Engineer
  • Python Developer
• Knowledge of the following would also be essential:
• • Software Python software engineering skills
  • API design
  • Software architecture and design patterns (event loops, dependency injection, object-oriented principles)
  • Inter-device and inter-process communication using gRPC, REST, raw TCP/UDP, or other high performance messaging protocols.
  • Comfortable on the command line in a Linux first environment
  • Development tools including Git, Jira, Confluence, CICD pipelines
• Knowledge of the following would also be desirable:
• • RF communication and signal processing concepts
  • Hardware in the loop CICD design
  • Software development experience in lower-level languages such as Rust, Golang, C, Modern C++ etc
  • Laboratory and Field based testing

Note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters unless specifically instructed.