Preferred starting date: 1st August or 1st September onwards
Weekly availability: Full-time (5 days/week)
Period: 6 months
Location: Delft, the Netherlands
Fiducial is a young but fast-growing deep-tech start-up with big ambitions at the frontier of autonomy, perception, and defence. Currently, we are developing software for advanced onboard UAV situational awareness in military applications. Using low-cost and widely available sensors and compute, our solutions are built for scalability. From there, we plan to develop a line-up of interconnected solutions to safeguard European safety.
Our team consists of engineers who are passionate about the technology and solutions they develop. The only time most of us are not thinking about the technology is when we are asleep, and sometimes even then. Our team members come from different backgrounds such as Aerospace Engineering, Computational Science and Engineering, Robotics, and Computer Graphics. Our office is located in the Aerospace Innovation Hub, a start-up hub on the TU Delft campus in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.
We work closely with top-tier partners, ranging from government agencies and prime contractors to academic research institutes and other start-ups. Our projects span from large tender orders in collaboration with partners to low-TRL research with government agencies. Whether through formal R&D programs or rapid prototyping tracks, we operate at the intersection of innovation and deployment.
If you are the kind of person who enjoys being on the sticks, knows how to prepare a platform for flight, and likes making sure UAV systems are always ready to go, this internship is designed for you.
We are looking for a UAV Pilot & Flight Operations Intern who is first and foremost excited about piloting and operating UAV platforms. This role is not limited to FPV systems, although FPV experience is highly valued. You will also work with other platforms such as multirotors including the Holybro X650 and fixed-wing aircraft.
Your main responsibility is to make sure our UAV platforms are flight-ready at all times. That means not only flying, but also checking, maintaining, preparing, troubleshooting, and improving the systems before and after flight operations.
This is not a desk-only internship. You will spend time around real aircraft, in the workshop, and in the field. You will pilot, test, inspect, and help ensure our drone platforms can be deployed reliably and safely.
Pilot and operate UAV platforms in test and R&D environments.
Support flight operations across multiple platform types, including:
Ensure platforms are flight-ready at all times through structured pre-flight, post-flight, and maintenance routines.
Perform system checks on airframes, propulsion systems, power systems, RC links, telemetry, payloads, and onboard compute.
Prepare platforms for test days by charging batteries, checking logs, verifying configurations, updating firmware where needed, and confirming component health.
Troubleshoot flight readiness issues quickly and methodically.
Help maintain and improve standard operating procedures for flight preparation, field deployment, and recovery.
Assist with setup and tuning of flight controllers such as ArduPilot, Betaflight and related ground control workflows.
Work hands-on with onboard systems including compute boards such as Jetson, Orange Pi, and associated sensors.
Support deployment and field testing of embedded perception and autonomy software.
Solder, assemble, repair, and prototype wiring, adapters, mounts, and housings when needed.
3D-print parts and contribute to practical workshop solutions that improve reliability and ease of deployment.
Participate in outdoor test campaigns, collect observations, and communicate technical issues clearly with the engineering team.
Help keep our platforms organized, maintained, documented, and ready for rapid iteration.
You have experience flying UAVs, RC aircraft, or FPV systems.
You are genuinely excited about piloting and flight operations.
You care about making systems reliable, safe, and ready to fly.
You enjoy practical technical work and solving real hardware problems.
You are comfortable taking responsibility for the condition and readiness of physical platforms.
You like working in the field as much as in the workshop.
Linux does not scare you.
You are independent, curious, organized, and resourceful.
You are able to work carefully and consistently, especially when preparing systems for flight.
We care much more about what you have built, flown, maintained, or fixed than about grades.
You have a driver’s license
Drone pilot license or similar flight certification
These are strong pluses, but not strict requirements:
Experience with FPV systems
Experience with multirotor UAVs and/or fixed-wing platforms
Familiarity with ArduPilot, Betaflight, or other flight controller ecosystems
Experience with Holybro, Pixhawk-based systems, ESCs, power distribution, telemetry radios, or RC links
Experience with onboard compute such as Jetson or Orange Pi
Soldering and electronics debugging skills
3D printing, CAD, or rapid prototyping experience
Basic embedded software or robotics experience
Experience with field testing and flight logs
When applying, please include photos, videos, or links to things that show us you actually build, fly, or maintain systems. For example:
drone builds
FPV rigs
multirotor or fixed-wing platforms
workshop or field setup
electronics projects
CAD or 3D-printed parts
GitHub repositories
flight videos
repair or maintenance work
anything that demonstrates hands-on flying or technical ownership
If you’ve ever crashed something, fixed it, and flown it again, you’ll probably fit right in.
Enrolled in a relevant study program (Aerospace, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or similar)
Basic Linux skills
Strong interest in UAVs, flight operations, robotics, embedded systems, or autonomy
English proficiency
Organized and proactive working style
1000 euro monthly internship allowance
10 vacation days during the internship period
Flexible working hours and the option to work from home 2 days per week where practical
A direct and significant influence on highly innovative products
The opportunity to work close to the hardware and the product, with fast iteration and tight feedback loops
Responsibility over the systems and improvements you contribute to
A team environment where practical experimentation, learning, and ownership are expected
If after reading the above you are convinced you are the right person for the job, send us some information about yourself. This can be a resume, website, portfolio, or any other source that gives us a clear impression of your background, technical skills, and hands-on experience. We will get back to you ASAP.
If we think you could be a fit for the position, we will invite you for an informal introduction so we can get to know you, and equally important, you can get to know us. After this, a more technically focused interview may follow.
If at that point we believe you are the person we are looking for, we will discuss the specifics such as starting date and internship period.
Welcome to the team!
