About Six Robotics
At Six Robotics, you're not just joining a company; You're joining a mission to reshape the future of autonomous systems. At Six Robotics, we build intelligent software that gives Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) the ability to collaborate, adapt on the fly, and execute missions that were previously impossible. From our base in Oslo, our 50+ experts in defence, software, and AI develop Valkyrie, our flagship autonomy and swarm platform used by both government and industry. In close partnership with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), we move fast from concept to live deployment, often in the field alongside end users.
We work with advanced hardware and software, a modern tech stack, and missions that demand both technical mastery and operational discipline. Everyone is close to the action, from deep technical problem-solving to field operations. We move fast and value clarity, integrity, and teamwork in everything we do.
At Six Robotics, every person executes with precision, adapts to changing conditions, and strengthens the team. Getting in is hard, and you’ll be challenged every day. But if you have the skill, the discipline, and the drive to push your limits, you’ll find no better place to deliver real-world impact while collaborating and learning from the best in the field.
About The Role
We are establishing a dedicated simulation team, aiming to strengthen autonomy development and validation. The simulator(s) will be used in R&D, for training of drone operators, and will be a key component in quality assurance through automated testing. To succeed, we need someone who wants to take technical ownership of the new team to define the simulation direction, select the right third-party components, and deliver a developer friendly simulator stack that we can develop further through deeper integrations and extensions.
You will work on realistic, end-to-end simulation of UAV swarm autonomy missions, covering both mission-level behavior and environment dynamics (e.g., wind, snow, takeoff/landing conditions). The work spans architecture decisions, integration of simulators and tooling, sensor/environment mocking, containerized deployment, and making simulation a key asset for CI and regression testing. Hardware-in-the-loop / HITL integration into the simulator is also in the scope of the project.
Success in this role means that within six months, you have delivered an MVP simulator that can run an autonomy mission end-to-end, with clear technical direction for how the simulation stack should evolve. Simulation is usable in practice (not just a demo): it runs reliably, supports repeatable testing in CI, and is understood well enough that other engineers can contribute productively.
What You Will Do
Own the simulation domain end-to-end Take the full technical ownership of Six Robotics' simulation capabilities, spanning autonomy missions, environment modeling, sensor simulation, and integration with real systems.
Design and evolve the simulation architecture Define and drive the overall simulation architecture, including tool selection and integration strategy (third-party components + in-house glue).
Enable autonomy and development validation Build a simulation environment that enables realistic development and validation of swarm autonomy behavior, including takeoff, landing, environmental effects (wind, snow), sensor inputs, and platform dynamics.
Set technical direction in a team Together, you deliver an MVP capable of simulating an autonomy mission end-to-end, and evolve it toward a scalable framework.
What we are looking for
We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer who thrives in complex domains, where technical ownership is real, and outcomes matter. You are a hands-on engineer who can take responsibility for hard simulation problems end-to-end and turn unclear requirements into working, scalable systems.
You bring strong technical judgment and have seen both what good looks like and where simulation efforts fail. You are comfortable making architectural decisions independently, choosing the right tools rather than building everything from scratch, and setting a technical direction that others can build on. While you will collaborate closely with other engineers, the core of this role is about technical leadership through execution.
Working closely with the CTO and with senior engineers and domain experts in other teams, you act as a key technical authority for simulation and autonomy validation. You help ensure that simulation becomes a reliable foundation for R&D, training, and future capabilities by being pragmatic and rigorous.
We believe the right candidate brings
5+ years of highly relevant experience in simulation, autonomy, robotics, automotive or defence software.
Hands-on experience with simulation platforms, and opinions on what they bring to the table (e.g., Gazebo, Isaac Sim, VBS4, game-engine-based simulation, or in-house simulators).
Hand-on experience with what great looks like when it comes to simulation, and the ability to rebuild that even better from scratch.
Solid software engineering skills with Python, CI integration, and Docker/containerized environments.
Clear, efficient communication and the ability to drive alignment across technical stakeholders.
Fluency in English (Norwegian not required).
Nice-to-haves:
Why You Should Join
At Six Robotics, we're not just building software - we're redefining how unmanned systems operate in the real world. If you're driven by meaningful problems, technical depth, and the chance to shape something from the ground up, you'll find your place here.
Work on problems that matter Our technology helps unlock smarter, safer, and more adaptable UAV operations in defense and industry, solving real challenges with direct, tangible impact.
Lead the shift in a hardware-dominated space We're bringing modern AI, autonomy, and scalable software into a field that's long relied on rigid, pre-programmed systems to change how UAVs are designed, deployed, and managed.
Build from zero, shape the future Join early and help define the core systems, tools, and culture of a company that’s still being built - where your ideas, code, and decisions will have a lasting influence.
Work with purpose, supported by great benefits You'll be part of a mission-driven team that values clarity, integrity, and collaboration, offering competitive pay, equity potential, strong insurance and pension plans, and ongoing learning opportunities.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
At Six Robotics, we are committed to creating a workplace built on respect, integrity, and collaboration. We value different perspectives and experiences, and we believe that diversity within our team strengthens both our work and our culture. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply and help us build technology that makes a real impact.
Our Recruitment Process
We aim to keep our process short and sweet, but also thorough. As a small team, every hire matters, and we can’t afford to get this one wrong.
Here’s what to expect:
Screening interview with one of our recruiters to get to know you better (30 min).
Meet & Greet with someone from the team to learn more about us (60 min).
Structured case interview to understand how you approach problem-solving (90 min).
Final interview and a chance to meet with the management team (45 min).
Reference check followed by an offer if everything goes well
Security Clearance Requirement
All employees at Six Robotics are required to undergo a security clearance due to our close collaboration with the Norwegian Armed Forces. While prior clearance is not necessary, the clearance process will be initiated as part of onboarding.