Perception Technology Lead

About the role

Airbus Helicopters is seeking a Perception Technology Lead to drive the development of autonomous perception systems for uncrewed aerial systems and helicopters. Based in Getafe, Spain, you will work within a cross‑divisional team to create robust sensor‑fusion solutions that operate in degraded visual environments.

Key responsibilities

• Assess and select active and passive sensors (LiDAR, SWIR, LWIR, Radar) to define the optimal perception suite for low‑visibility conditions.
• Design the logical architecture that fuses 3‑D point‑cloud data with multi‑spectral imagery to generate a high‑confidence world view.
• Develop visual‑augmentation concepts that present fused situational data to crew or remote pilots, reducing cognitive load.
• Lead the verification cycle from laboratory prototypes through UAS test‑beds to full‑scale helicopter flight trials.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison for sensor‑startup partners and research institutions, integrating disruptive payloads into experimental platforms.
• Collaborate with flight‑control engineers to embed perception maps into navigation loops for GNSS‑denied routing and obstacle avoidance.
• Manage SWaP‑C trade‑offs and accelerate sensor modification cycles with a startup‑mindset.

Required profile

• Master’s or PhD in Telecommunications, Photonics, Robotics, or Aerospace Engineering with a focus on computer vision or sensor fusion.
• Minimum 5 years of R&D or aerospace systems‑integration experience, preferably in agile defence‑tech or OEM environments.
• Proven track record delivering perception algorithms from concept to flight‑tested hardware.

Required skills

• LiDAR, SWIR, LWIR, Radar sensor technologies
• 3‑D point‑cloud processing
• Multi‑spectral image fusion
• Computer vision
• Sensor fusion architecture
• SWaP‑C analysis

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape autonomous flight capabilities for a leading aerospace manufacturer.
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary engineering teams in a major European aerospace hub.
• Access to cutting‑edge sensor technologies and experimental flight platforms.