Senior Linux Systems Engineer (SDR Integration)

Pai Defence is a British-Ukrainian air defence tech company building distributed systems for the frontline. We are seeking an experienced Linux Systems Engineer to integrate Software Defined Radio (SDR) devices into our software platform. This role focuses on hardware-software integration with emphasis on performance and reliability in real-world battlefield applications.

• Integrate different SDR models into a unified Linux-based ecosystem
• Work with vendor SDKs and develop high-performance userspace applications
• Optimize high-throughput data processing in real-time
• Write clean, stable, and performant code in C++ or Python
• Debug inter-process communication and manage buffering and latency

• 5+ years of professional Linux systems experience
• Linux Power User: comfortable in terminal, understands kernel-space vs user-space, knows systemd and driver configuration
• Hardware Interface Expert: hands-on experience with USB 2.0/3.0, Ethernet, or other high-throughput interfaces
• Data Stream Architect: understands IPC principles, ring buffers, memory overflow prevention, and latency minimization for raw data transmission
• C++ Developer: writes reliable code that doesn't crash on unexpected hardware packets
• English: B2 or higher
• Nice to have: SDR experience (RTL-SDR, HackRF, USRP, GNU Radio), ROS/ROS2 experience, understanding of data transmission protocols and DSP, electronics or radio communication background

• Work format: Kyiv office with occasional remote days
• Full-time position with standard hours; occasional off-hours for testing/updates
• Meaningful, high-impact work in Ukraine's air defense domain
• Deep-tech engineering challenges where rigor and performance matter
• High ownership and autonomy from day one
• Senior engineering team with direct communication and minimal bureaucracy