Head of Software & Perception
Barrie, ON
R&D
Full-time
Oct 30, 2026
SKYCAN SYSTEMS INC.
CAPABILITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE
Head of Software & Perception
SW Division Lead - Embedded Firmware, Perception, GCS & Product Security
LOCATION
Barrie, Ontario (onsite)
REPORTS TO
Chief Technology Officer
DIVISION
R&D Department
WORK ARRANGEMENT
Onsite by default. Up to 2 days remote per week after the first 6 months, subject to controlled-data handling constraints. Full onsite presence during integration and flight-test campaigns.
SECURITY REQUIREMENT
Must be eligible for security assessment under the Controlled Goods Program (CGP).
ABOUT SKYCAN
SkyCan Systems Inc. is a Canadian aerospace and defence company that designs and manufactures uncrewed aerial vehicles for the Government of Canada and allied nations.
Our manufacturing facility is in Barrie, Ontario, supported by a satellite office in Toronto. We are scaling from a small engineering core to a full production organization.
THE ROLE
This role defines the software and firmware architecture spanning the flight controller autopilot, map-based and visual navigation, the ground control station, datalink, mission systems, on-vehicle perception and AI pipelines, and product security. You will lead, hire, and mentor firmware, perception, navigation, and GCS engineers as the division scales, own the software-side interface control documents and requirements traceability, and enforce design assurance to DO-178C objectives and MISRA coding standards.
You will direct software development from prototype through qualified release, represent software at PDR, CDR, TRR, and safety reviews, and contribute to the R&D roadmap for flight software, autopilot capability, perception and AI, and mission management jointly with the CTO.
WHAT YOU'LL OWN
– System architecture: Define the software and firmware architecture spanning the flight controller autopilot, map-based and visual navigation, ground control station, datalink, mission systems, on-vehicle perception and AI pipelines, and product security (on-vehicle cryptography and secure boot) - including the logical and physical architecture for onboard computing and networking.
– Team leadership: Lead, hire, and mentor firmware, perception, navigation, and GCS engineers as the division scales. Run design and code reviews, own the software program schedule, and coordinate with the other R&D heads - Hardware, Airframe & Mechanical, V&V/Airworthiness and Safety, Systems, Manufacturing, and IT - on integration and requirements.
– Interfaces and traceability: Own the software-side Interface Control Documents for avionics, sensors, datalinks, and ground systems, and maintain traceability from requirements through design, implementation, and verification.
– Safety and compliance: Establish and enforce software design assurance practices compliant with DO-178C objectives at the assurance level appropriate to each component's criticality, and MISRA coding standards.
– Lifecycle management: Direct software development from prototype through qualified release - HIL verification, regression test infrastructure, formal V&V, and independent verification of auto-generated (model-based) flight code by an engineer who did not author the source model. Represent software at PDR, CDR, TRR, and safety reviews.
– Technology roadmap: Shape the R&D roadmap for flight software, autopilot capability, perception and AI, and mission management, jointly with the CTO.
WHAT YOU BRING - TECHNICAL
Proficiency levels indicate the depth expected in each area. Items marked Asset are not required.
– Embedded firmware EXPERT: Real-time embedded C/C++ on ARM Cortex-M / STM32H7-class MCUs; RTOS (Azure RTOS, FreeRTOS or similar); bare-metal driver development.
– Open-source flight stack EXPERT: Deep development experience modifying and extending PX4, ArduPilot, or similar frameworks - HAL layer porting, custom module integration, and the MAVLink protocol stack.
– AI and perception DEEP: Model training and deployment for onboard target-recognition workloads; GPU-accelerated inference pipeline design; map-based and visual navigation for GNSS-degraded and denied operation; data/MLOps pipeline ownership from collection and labelling through model iteration and deployment to the target platform.
– Software quality and static analysis DEEP: Static analysis tooling, enforcement of coding standards for safety-critical software (MISRA guidelines), and rigorous code review discipline.
– SIL/HIL and simulation DEEP: Software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop rig integration and execution (Speedgoat, NI PXIe or equivalent); integration and execution of the 6-DOF flight dynamics model on the rig; closed-loop regression testing. Model authorship and 6-DOF fidelity sit with Flight Sciences; this role owns the physical rig and test infrastructure.
– Systems and communications protocols DEEP: Datalink and telemetry protocol integration (radio hardware and antennas sit with the Hardware division); I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, RS-485, RS-232, Ethernet; secure and encrypted command-and-control link handling.
– Requirements and verification discipline DEEP: Software-level requirements decomposition and bidirectional traceability; software-side ICD authorship; formal verification procedures and test evidence packages suitable for DND and Transport Canada review (e.g. DND TA-2017).
– Product security and encryption DEEP: On-vehicle cryptography and secure boot - chain of trust, key management, encrypted firmware update, and hardware root-of-trust integration. Scope is on-vehicle only.
– Autopilot and navigation integration PROFICIENT: Integration of Flight-Sciences-owned navigation and control law outputs (GNSS-denied state estimation via INS/EKF/UKF, inner-loop rate and attitude control) into the embedded flight software stack, with enough depth to specify interfaces and review integration correctness. Detailed EKF/UKF design and control law authorship sit with Flight Sciences.
– Autocode verification PROFICIENT: Independent verification of auto-generated flight code (Simulink/Embedded Coder output for control-law implementations) by an engineer who did not author the source model, consistent with DO-178C practice.
– Ground control software PROFICIENT: Desktop and cross-platform GCS application development, map and mission-planning UI requirements, and telemetry handshakes.
– UAS standards and interoperability PROFICIENT: STANAG 4586 and MAVLink; awareness of JARUS and Transport Canada RPAS requirements, and of Detect and Avoid architecture and its software implications for BVLOS operations.
– Networked vehicle systems ASSET: Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-ground networking architectures for coordinated operations.
– Requirements tooling ASSET: Requirements management platforms (DOORS, Jama or equivalent); familiarity with SysML/MBSE toolchains.
QUALIFICATIONS & BACKGROUND
– Experience: 12+ years in embedded software and firmware development with a strong focus on robotics, aerospace, defence, or autonomous systems. Minimum 3 years in a lead, principal, or engineering-management role with direct reports.
– Verification: Hands-on experience with HIL test planning and execution, firmware qualification testing, regression suite development, field and flight test support, and production of verification evidence for customer or regulator review.
– Security: Eligible for CGP security assessment. Existing CGP registration or a federal security clearance is an asset.
– Education: MASc or BASc in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace, Robotics, or Mechatronics, or equivalent experience. P.Eng is an asset.
CERTIFICATIONS (ASSETS)
- Existing federal security clearance, or eligibility to obtain one
- ARP4754A / ARP4761 system safety awareness
- Transport Canada Advanced RPAS Certificate
- Transport Canada Level 1 Complex Operations
WHY SKYCAN
- Ownership of a technical division at a company moving from prototype to volume production.
- Platforms that are fielded operationally, with direct feedback from operators.
- A purpose-built Barrie facility with dedicated lab, integration, and test infrastructure.
- Competitive base salary, employee benefits, and paid time off.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, ACCOMMODATION & ELIGIBILITY
SkyCan Systems Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and make hiring decisions on merit, without regard to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital or family status, or disability.
Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Requests can be made through the careers section of the SkyCan website.
This position involves access to controlled goods and controlled technology. Successful candidates must be eligible for and complete a security assessment under the Controlled Goods Program, and may be required to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada security clearance. Eligibility is assessed under Canadian law and does not require Canadian work experience.
SkyCan uses artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for this position.
