Robotics Software Engineer

Important pre-read This job description will take \~15 minutes to read and \~15 minutes to apply. You increase your chances of selection by 10x if you read this to the end, with focus. What is Kova Labs? We are building the foundational autonomy layer for unmanned systems operating in the most challenging environments on Earth. Our technology will allow thousands, and eventually millions, of unmanned systems to operate independently anywhere, at any time. Our first product, Kilo, enables autonomous operations in closed, complex environments, including forests and indoor settings, without relying on continuous communication or GNSS. **About The Team** Kova Labs was founded in 2025 based on our firsthand experience working with drones (inside and outside the military). We're a deeply technical and product-driven team working across the software, hardware, and research to solve the hardest problems with unmanned systems on the battlefield. We're backed by Lifeline Ventures and multiple angels. Problems we solve Environment: Autonomy that appears credible in open, cooperative conditions often collapses in cluttered, low-altitude and contested terrain. Cost: The stacks that perform best today typically rely on premium sensors, heavy compute, and tightly integrated platforms, setting a high per-unit cost floor that prevents deployment at scale. Manual Control: Most systems still require 20–30 minutes of human piloting before anything “autonomous” happens, keeping operations bound to human attention. As a result, large parts of operational terrain remain completely dark to aerial systems, usable scale is constrained by human attention, and the few systems that perform reliably do so at a cost structure that breaks the economics of modern unmanned warfare. Why you should NOT join us If high stakes, tight deadlines, and significant challenges don't excite you, our mission might not align with your career goals. We seek exceptional individuals who are ready to push the boundaries and want to go that extra mile. Why you SHOULD join us We offer the opportunity to work on groundbreaking technology to strengthen Europe's and our allies' defence, supported by a team of A players. From intern to CEO, we're all in the same room. No middle managers, no bureaucratic layers. You talk directly to anyone. If you're drawn to solving hard problems every day and want to create a meaningful and profound impact on national security. We are an ideal place for an engineer or operator eager to learn fast, take ownership, and grow through building systems that operate under real-world pressure. At Kova, you will do the best and hardest work of your life. We seek exceptional individuals who are ready to push boundaries and go the extra mile. **Requirements** About this role As a Robotics Software Engineer at Kova Labs, you work across the entire autonomy stack. On Monday, you’ll be improving our navigation module; next, you’ll be building the tooling that lets the rest of the team move faster; and by Thursday, you’ll be in the field watching your code fly. We’re a small team building autonomous systems that operate where everything else fails. That means the problems don’t come pre-sorted into neat disciplines, and neither does this role. We’re not looking for someone who wants to stay in one lane. If you’re a builder with a robotics, mechatronics, or software engineering background, and you want to work on machines that actually matter, you’ll feel at home here. Genuine curiosity and the ability to learn fast matter more to us than any single skill on your CV. Responsibilities might include * Build, test, and improve autonomy across the stack: perception, navigation, control, and the systems that tie them together * Write the infrastructure and tooling the rest of the team depends on to develop on validate faster * Take systems from your screen to the field – test on real hardware, fly drones, and watch how your work behaves in the real world * Debug across boundaries: when something breaks, you don’t stop at “that’s not my part” * Work directly alongside the rest of the engineering team, with no layers between **Qualifications** * B.Sc. in an engineering discipline (CS, Robotics, EE, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Aerospace), or a portfolio that makes the degree irrelevant * Portfolio of independent projects demonstrating your hands-on skills and interest in the matter * Strong programming ability and the judgement to work across unfamiliar parts of a system * Comfortable in Linux; you write scripts without being asked * Genuine curiosity and a track record of learning fast under pressure Bonus points for * Computer vision, SLAM, or state estimation experience * Control theory and real-world robotics or drone work * Embedded systems and working close to hardware * FPV drone flying experience * Having built something ambitious on your own, just because you wanted to Our hiring process Round 1: Screening application * Duration: At your own pace, but if it takes you less than 15 minutes to apply, you're unlikely to move to the next round. * How to ace: Do not copy-paste your answers from our website or an LLM. Be specific and concrete in your answers. We want to get to know you. * Mandatory: Come up with at least two referral persons for us to contact. Round 2: Intro Call with Kova's CEO * Duration: 30 minutes. * How to ace: Be yourself. Help us understand your goals \& aspirations. We want to know you, not some ideal, unrealistic person. Demonstrate your experience in the area we are evaluating. Ask good questions. Round 3: Technical Challenge * Duration: One week to complete, but the challenge itself shouldn't take more than one evening's work. * How to ace: Show curiosity. Surprise us. Go beyond what you're expected to do. Come up with new ideas. * Note: For some roles, we conduct a work trial or challenge on-site instead. Round 4: Technical Call with Kova's CTO * Duration: 45 minutes. * How to ace: Show deep understanding of the problem \& solution from the technical challenge. Welcome aboard! Congratulations! You're now part of the team at Kova. On your first day, you will jump straight into a live project with one of our team members. Work location All team members work in the office at our HQ in Helsinki. We are establishing a fast-paced and collaborative work environment, and that simply does not happen from home. **Benefits** What we expect from you * Genuine curiosity * Practical problem solving skills * Confidence, but low-ego * Founder's mindset * Bias for action * Not worrying about getting your hands dirty What to expect from us * Team of A players * Working directly with the founders * Ridiculous level of responsibility * Work on hard problems * A lunch benefit Tips Not Tied To You Applying At Kova Or Not, Some Of The Following Tips Will Definitely Help You In Your Job Search. I've Seen Countless Good And Bad Applications, And These Are The Ones That Stand Out To Us * Targeted application: Ensure your application is tailored specifically for the job you're applying for by understanding its requirements and showcasing relevant experiences and skills. Apply for this job, not some job. * Stand out: Most people don't put any effort into applying or standing out from the crowd. It's very easy to stand out with a little effort and showcasing relevant experience and past projects. * Be a person: We aren't looking for pure talent, but also personality. Tell the stories that made you. We are looking for people we would love to be around for a long time. * Be honest: No-one has it all figured out. We're learning on the go every day. It's way better to be honest about where you're the best in the world, and what you know nothing about. It's fine. A note before you apply Because of the nature of our work with defence technologies, specific roles might carry security, clearance, and export control requirements that affect who we're able to hire. Apply If you've come this far, great. We wish you the best in your job search. Name* Email* Resume (PDF or DOCX)* GitHub or Website LinkedIn Why do you want to work at Kova?* Describe your job to a 5 year old* Examples of extraordinary accomplishments* At least two referral persons* By submitting, you agree to Kova Labs processing your data to evaluate your application. We do not share your information with third parties.