About Windtracx
Windtracx is building active wind propulsion technology for commercial shipping. Our system uses a high-performance autonomous flying wing to generate traction and reduce fuel consumption and emissions at sea. This is a hard robotics problem at the intersection of aerospace, controls, autonomy, embedded systems, and simulation - exactly the kind of challenge that attracts engineers who like solving real problems with real hardware.
We are looking for a technical cofounder to lead the evolution of our software stack. In the near term, your mission is hands‑on: understand the existing codebase, optimize and modernize it, validate performance improvements, and ensure portability to the latest Pixhawk processors. As Windtracx grows, you will transition into the software lead role and own the architecture, development process, and technical direction of the platform.
This is not a generic software role. You will work on a demanding autonomous aerial system with a tethered aircraft architecture, transition flight modes, multi‑actuator control, and tight integration between simulation and embedded deployment. If you enjoy PX4 internals, ROS2 nodes, Gazebo‑based validation, control loops, and making flight software behave on real hardware, you will feel at home here.
* A tethered autonomous aircraft that takes off in hover and transitions to fixed‑wing flight.
* Guidance, navigation, and control challenges tied to traction‑generating flight trajectories.
* A software architecture spanning onboard control, supervisory logic, and ground station coordination.
* Simulation‑first development using ROS2, PX4, and Gazebo before validation on real avionics and flight hardware.
* Porting, optimization, and verification work for newer Pixhawk‑class processors and evolving hardware targets.
What You Will Be Working On
* Audit, understand, and improve the existing flight software and simulation stack.
* Refactor and optimize critical components for robustness, maintainability, and performance.
* Update and verify compatibility with the latest Pixhawk processors and supporting avionics.
* Develop and maintain ROS2 / PX4 / Gazebo workflows for simulation, testing, and deployment.
* Support bench testing, flight test preparation, debugging, and post‑flight analysis.
* Over time, define software architecture, engineering standards, roadmap priorities, and lead the software function as the company scales.
What You Will Own
* Must have: hands‑on experience with ROS2 in real drone or autopilot projects.
* Must have: strong experience with Gazebo or equivalent simulation environments used for robotics or UAV development.
* Must have: strong C/C++ skills; Rust is a plus.
* Nice to have: direct exposure to embedded/autopilot hardware, flight stacks, sensor integration, and debugging on real systems.
* Nice to have: solid Linux development workflow.
* Nice to have: hands‑on experience with PX4.
* Strong plus: experience porting or optimizing software on Pixhawk‑class hardware.
* Strong plus: background in flight controls, estimation, state machines, guidance logic, or UAV system architecture.
* Important: this role is intended for people who have already built, modified, simulated, or deployed drone software. If your background is general software only, this is probably not the right fit.
Who Should Apply
* You are motivated by building something difficult from an early stage, not by waiting for a fully structured company around you.
* You can work with ambiguity, take ownership, and make sound technical decisions with limited resources.
* You communicate clearly, document your work, and can collaborate across software, controls, and flight‑test activities.
* You want meaningful upside and technical ownership, and you are comfortable joining before conventional salaries exist.
* Fluent English is required.
Compensation & Why This Role Exists
* This is a cofounder role, not a salaried position at this stage.
* There is no immediate cash compensation. Please apply only if you understand that Windtracx is currently at an early stage and this role is equity‑based until funding is secured.
* The upside is ownership. The right person will receive meaningful company stakes aligned with a cofounder‑level contribution when funding and company structuring milestones are reached.
* This can be a strong fit for someone who already has another income, consulting work, academic research, or flexibility to commit because they believe in the mission and want real technical ownership.
* In return, you get the chance to shape the software foundation of a highly technical climate‑tech company from the inside, with direct influence on product, architecture, and long‑term direction.
If you know your way around ROS2, PX4, Gazebo, and real UAV software — and you want to help build a serious flying system as a cofounder — we want to hear from you. If you are a strong generalist developer but do not have hands‑on drone/autopilot experience, this role is not the right match.
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