Ascend Engineering Bolsters Open Source Strategy & Drone Ecosystem with Key Strategic Hires

Ascend Engineering has reinforced its commitment to open source aerial robotics by adding a second PX4 ecosystem maintainer to its technical staff.

Andrew Brahim and Holden Ramsey have joined the team, bringing deep expertise in PX4 autopilot development to the Chicago-based drone integration provider. Brahim currently leads the Rover sub-group and contributes to the Driver/Sensors sub-group, while Ramsey co-leads the QGroundControl (QGC) Maintainers sub-group. These strategic additions position the company among a select group of development service firms that actively employ open source maintainers to contribute directly to upstream repositories.

As a Dronecode Foundation Silver Member and the official flight testing provider for the PX4 project, the company views these hires as a method to strengthen the industry’s foundation.

Andrew Wilkins, Co-Founder of Ascend Engineering, said, “Supporting open source and PX4 has propelled our business to new heights, and we see the health of the open source ecosystem as integral to the future of the industry,” said Wilkins. “Hiring PX4 core maintainers allows us to contribute back at a higher level and provide unrivaled services to our clients with the best talent the industry has to offer.”

The move has drawn support from industry leadership regarding the positive impact on software reliability and community health.

Ramón Roche, General Manager at the Dronecode Foundation, said, “Ascend Engineering is a great example of what real commitment to open source looks like. Hiring active PX4 and QGroundControl maintainers is not just good for their business; it directly strengthens the ecosystem the entire industry depends on.”

Roche continued, “Their investment in upstream work means more reliable software for everyone, faster innovation, and a healthier community. We’re proud to have them in the Dronecode Foundation and excited to see them continue raising the bar.”

Beyond direct employment, the firm undertakes contract work specifically focused on advancing PX4, QGroundControl, and other Dronecode-related repositories. This operational model ensures that commercial projects contribute improvements back to community repositories.

Andrew Brahim, now an Engineer at Ascend, stated, “It would be hard to imagine a better opportunity to contribute back to PX4 than with my role at Ascend. By contributing to the infrastructure we all rely on, I get to make sure the ecosystem continues to grow.”

Holden Ramsey commented, “Being a maintainer means you get to take pride in turning the hard problems that we all face in the field into something that simply just works for the end user. It’s a challenge that’s always evolving and shifting, so there’s always another hill to conquer.”

The expanded engineering team enhances the company’s ability to deliver specialized services, including PX4 firmware development, custom MAVLink and MAVSDK integration, and QGroundControl customization. The firm also offers sensor integration for LiDAR and radar, as well as onboard computer integration for platforms such as ModalAI VOXL and Nvidia Jetson. Additional capabilities include support for ROS1, ROS2, communication systems, and GPS-denied navigation solutions.

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