Technical Engineer

Company Overview

XTEND is a Physical AI software-centric company revolutionizing the deployment and management of autonomous robotic systems, primarily in defense, security, and other high-risk sectors. The company's core innovation, XOS, serves as the operating system for Physical AI, connecting autonomous platforms with operators, applications, and payloads to facilitate precise, rapid, and controlled mission execution. With over 10,000 deployed systems worldwide, XTEND is developing a foundational operating system enabling autonomous systems to collaborate, evolve dynamically, and mitigate risks for personnel.

Role Overview and Responsibilities

We seek a Technical Engineer to represent XTEND in the UK, spearheading the setup and operation of the UK lab. This role entails practical engineering, integrating XTEND systems for local customers, delivering customer-funded developmental work onsite, and addressing field issues. The role combines hands-on bench and fieldwork, software tasks, and direct customer interaction. It involves building a lab from scratch and ensuring systems reach operators successfully.

• Establish and manage the UK laboratory from an empty space, including specifying requirements, sourcing equipment, setting up testing rigs, tooling, secure storage, and configuration control.
• Integrate, configure, and conduct testing on XTEND UAV and unmanned systems aligned to UK customer needs.
• Perform customer-sponsored development tasks and system modifications locally, collaborating with international engineering counterparts.
• Provide technical support during deliveries, demonstrations, training sessions, and field events, offering substantial technical expertise beyond presentations.
• Act as the first line of contact for technical troubleshooting of UK-deployed systems, responding promptly to issues.
• Maintain the UK technical asset registry, oversee firmware and software versions, and document integration activities.
• Relay UK field insights and feedback to contribute actively to the global engineering roadmap, acting as the customer-side technical liaison.

Candidate Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree (BEng or BSc) or equivalent in electronics, mechatronics, aerospace, robotics, or related engineering disciplines; strong self-taught candidates will also be considered.
• Between 3 and 7 years of direct engineering experience with UAVs, robotics, embedded systems, or similar hardware-software integrations.
• Proficient with practical engineering tasks such as soldering, wiring harness creation, debugging, system configuration, and basic mechanical work; comfortable handling physical equipment rather than only documentation.
• Technical software skills including familiarity with Linux, scripting languages, basic networking concepts, and communication protocols; able to engage as a technical peer with engineering teams.
• A versatile, multi-disciplinary approach allowing for hardware debugging, customer demonstrations, and lab specification activities as needed.
• Fluent English communication skills and legal authorization to work in the UK.
• Highly advantageous qualifications or experience include UAV/counter-UAS/UGV expertise, RF and communication systems familiarity, awareness of CAA/Article 16 regulations, or prior experience as a military technician.

Work Environment and Expectations

• XTEND UK operates as a rapidly scaling defense technology firm with an evolving organizational structure and high operational tempo.
• Employees are expected to engage broadly beyond their formal role responsibilities, supporting team success.
• The company prioritizes mission-critical objectives placing operator capabilities above processes and hierarchy.
• The position emphasizes experimentation, rapid prototyping, and pragmatic resolution of field challenges alongside structured engineering.
• The lab build-out, including tooling and equipment decisions, is under your leadership, starting from a bare facility.
• Field troubleshooting and customer technical support are integral components alongside bench work and system integration, providing a diverse engineering experience.
• Strong emphasis on execution speed, a high degree of ownership, and proactive action-taking are essential.