The Senior Android Developer will design and implement operator facing, GIS enabled planning and control applications for drone swarms running on Android tablets and rugged devices. The role includes on device geospatial processing, DTED integration, and low latency telemetry and command pathways, with field testing.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain Android applications that serve as the primary operator tools for swarm planning, monitoring, and tactical control.
- Integrate GIS layers and DTED elevation models into map based mission planning interfaces that are intuitive to use in the field.
- Implement real time telemetry, command, and control over UDP, TCP, WebSockets, MQTT, or similar transports across mesh radios and cellular links.
- Collaborate with autonomy, backend, and field engineering teams to ship features grounded in practical use and to support field exercises and customer demonstrations.
Requirements
- 7+ years of professional Android development experience, with Kotlin as the primary language and Java acceptable as a secondary option.
- Strong proficiency with the modern Android stack, including Jetpack components, coroutines, and lifecycle aware architecture.
- Hands-on experience rendering GIS data on mobile devices, including map tiles, vector overlays, and coordinate systems such as WGS84, MGRS, and UTM.
- Demonstrated experience consuming DTED for elevation aware features such as line of sight, terrain following, or viewshed analysis.
- Working knowledge of Android mapping libraries such as osmdroid, MapLibre, Mapbox, or the Google Maps SDK.
- Familiarity with georeferenced raster handling, map projections, and coordinate transformations.
- Experience implementing real-time, low latency data pipelines on Android using sockets, WebSockets, MQTT, gRPC, or Protobuf, with strong multithreading and offline first design.
- Experience designing user interfaces for ruggedized Android devices used outdoors, accounting for sunlight visibility, gloved operation, and unreliable networks.
- Ability to collaborate effectively within cross functional teams including backend, autonomy, and field engineers, and to work independently with limited oversight.
- Ability to remain calm and effective under operational pressure.
Technologies
- Android, Kotlin, Java, Jetpack, coroutines
- osmdroid, MapLibre, Mapbox, Google Maps SDK
- gRPC, Protobuf, MQTT, WebSockets, UDP, TCP
- MAVLink
- QGIS, ArcGIS, GDAL, GeoTools, JTS
- ATAK, TAK Server, WinTAK, iTAK, Cursor on Target (CoT)
- TAK, ATAK plugin development
Benefits
Base pay plus a generous equity package and potential performance-based bonuses.
Position Summary
Apium Swarm Robotics (ASR) develops swarm autonomy software for aerial, surface, undersea, and ground vehicles used in both commercial and defense contexts. Our systems are deployed on real platforms, tested in the field, and delivered to customers operating in complex and safety critical environments. We focus on production‑level software integrated into real vehicles rather than prototypes or slideware, with customers relying on reliable operation in demanding conditions.
Additional Desired Qualifications
- BS in Computer Science or a related field.
- ATAK plugin development experience.
- Familiarity with TAK ecosystem including TAK Server, WinTAK, iTAK, and Cursor on Target messaging.
- Experience developing software for drone control, ground control stations, or MAVLink-based systems.
- Experience supporting military, defense, or first-responder deployments.
- Familiarity with MIL-STD-2525 military symbology and tactical map presentation conventions.
- Experience with offline map caching, tile management, and handling large geospatial datasets on resource constrained devices.
- Knowledge of secure software development practices including code signing, obfuscation, and FIPS compliant cryptography.
- Experience with desktop GIS tools such as QGIS or ArcGIS, or geospatial libraries such as GDAL, GeoTools, or JTS.
- Experience contributing to open source mobile or geospatial projects.
- U.S. security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
- Must be able to walk, stand, and navigate large indoor and outdoor facilities for extended periods.
- Ability to lift and move materials and equipment up to 25 lbs on a regular basis.
- Use of personal protective equipment as required by safety policies.
- May be required to climb ladders, stoop, kneel, or crouch during inspections or maintenance.
- Regular exposure to noise, dust, temperature fluctuations, and industrial equipment.
- Occasional off-hours or weekend work for emergency responses or project needs.
- Frequent use of a computer and standard office equipment for documentation and coordination tasks.
- Travel up to 25 percent of the time based on customer integration needs.
Background Check
This position requires successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with a criminal history will be considered in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.
EEO and ITAR/EAR Work Authorization Disclosure
Red Cat Holdings provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
E-Verify
The company participates in E-Verify to confirm eligibility for employment and compliance with Right to Work rules.
