We are seeking a Head of Development / CTO with strong expertise in RF, embedded systems, and networks to lead the technical direction of its defense-tech startup. The company develops next-generation tactical communication and drone-control networks that remain reliable under GPS loss and radio interference. This role requires a hands-on technical leader who can architect, code, and guide teams across embedded, RF, and system integration domains. The ideal candidate combines deep engineering skills (C/C++, STM32, LoRa/FSK, MESH networking) with the ability to turn complex field requirements into scalable, validated solutions, driving innovation, reliability, and performance across company’s full hardware–software stack.
Team Management & Planning
- Establish development roadmap, standards, and quality processes.
- Lead and coordinate the work of embedded software and hardware developers (R&D team - Embedded, RF, DSP, Firmware, Systems). Offline commitment - Lviv
- Plan technical roadmaps and sprint cycles in close collaboration with CPO
- Help in building and leading a cross-functional R&D team (Embedded, RF, Firmware, DSP, Backend).
- Define technical roles for scaling the engineering organization.
- Establish a culture of experimentation and accountability, where rapid prototyping meets disciplined execution.
- Translate product features into clear technical epics and tasks
Architecture & Code Ownership
- Design and document scalable, resilient system and infrastructure
- Build and evolve the codebase hands-on (C/C++, STM32 embedded stack)
- Review developer code, ensure maintainability, and enforce clean code
- Build architecture and write clean scalable code
- Be able to find elegant technical solutions
Quality & Testing Oversight
- Set up lightweight, scalable QA processes (code reviews, CI pipelines, test coverage)
- Define and enforce testing protocols for both software and hardware-integrated systems
Field & Integration Involvement
- Participate in field testing and real-world validation of systems
- Troubleshoot performance issues under real operational constraints (latency, RF noise, etc.)
Cross-Functional Communication
- Work closely with C-level and ops to align features with tactical realities
- Communicate trade-offs and progress clearly to non-technical stakeholders
Embedded Systems & Firmware
- 5+ Years - Proficient in C/C++ for bare-metal and RTOS-based systems (FreeRTOS/Azure RTOS, STM32 HAL/LL, bootloaders)
- Experience with STM32 microcontrollers
- Experience with (Semtech) RF transceivers.
- Familiarity with embedded peripherals: SPI, UART, I2C, ADC, DAC, DMA
- Experience with interrupt-driven programming and power-sensitive design
- Familiarity with video codecs (H.264, H.265, AV1, etc…)
- English level — Upper-Intermediate (for working with documentation and communicating with investment partners)
Radio & Networking
- Familiarity with sub-GHz modulations
- Mandatory: (LoRa, FSK, GFSK, FLRC)
- Nice to have: (OQPSK, COFDM)
- Experience with SX127x/SX126x/LR11xx/LR20xx
- Experience with low-level RF link protocols and packet handling
- Familiarity with FHSS concepts, best practices
- Proven track in hardware-software co-design, PCB flow, and RF matching.
- Understanding of signal reliability under interference/jamming conditions is a plus
- Select and integrate modulation schemes.
- Develop RF coordination between multiple half-duplex transceivers with QoS control.
- Validate throughput, latency, jitter, and packet-loss in real-field environments.
- Strong experience with network architectures, specifically MESH networking
- Familiarity with MANET routing protocols (proactive, reactive, hybrid)
Architecture & Codebase Management
- System-level architecture planning for embedded integrations
- Ability to define modular code structures and hardware abstraction layers
- Own and evolve infrastructure: Git, CMake, build systems, deployment workflows
Code & QA Standards
- Review and validate developer code
- Setup and enforce lightweight QA workflows (unit tests, static analysis)
- Drive code documentation, test coverage, and regression tracking
Product & Roadmap Integration
- Define technical epics and feature breakdowns from product requirements
- Work closely with CPO to maintain and adjust roadmap priorities
- Coordinate team sprints and delivery schedules
Field & Integration Work
- Participate in on-site testing with integrated hardware
- Support field troubleshooting: telemetry issues, comms dropouts, thermal behavior, etc.
- Experience with FPGA
- Impact and meaning: your work will directly influence the development of Ukraine's defense technologies;
- Official employment and financial stability: we guarantee timely salary payments and official employment;
- Comfort and care for you: enjoy a comfortable office, full technical setup, and free lunches provided by the company;
- Flexibility and safety: we offer a flexible work schedule and reserved parking for all employees.
