10+ years of hands-on robotics software engineering experience with a proven track record of delivering systems.
Recent production C++ experience on physical robotic systems.
Experience transitioning robotics software from prototype to reliable field use.
System-level expertise in timing, threading, latency, and reliability, including CI/CD and quality assurance processes.
Broad knowledge of robotics, including sensors, perception, tracking, and control, with familiarity in time synchronization and coordinate transforms.
Experience mentoring a team while actively contributing as a developer.
Familiarity with ROS or ROS2, and experience with cameras, IMUs, and encoders.
Responsibilities
Write and maintain critical production C++ code across the robotics stack.
Define and uphold system-wide timing and safety contracts from perception to control.
Transition software from prototype to reliable field releases, including deployment and quality assurance.
Mentor and develop the robotics team while contributing code directly.
Debug hardware and field issues during regular range tests.
Benefits
On-site work environment in San Francisco, California, fostering collaboration and hands-on engagement.
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge defense technology in a senior role.
Involvement in a dynamic team focused on autonomous systems and unmanned aerial threats.
Full Job Description
About the Role
Join the robotics team at a defense technology company developing autonomous systems to detect and counter unmanned aerial threats. This is a senior, hands-on individual contributor role focused on production robotics software running on real hardware. What You'll Do
Write and own critical production C++ across the robotics stack.
Define and maintain system-wide timing and safety contracts from perception through control.
Take software from prototype to dependable field releases, including packaging, deployment, CI/CD, quality assurance, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
Mentor and grow the robotics team while continuing to contribute code directly.
Debug hardware and field issues, including during regular range tests.
What We're Looking For
10 or more years of hands-on robotics software engineering experience and a record of shipping systems.
Recent, hands-on production C++ experience on physical robotic systems.
Experience taking robotics software from prototype to repeatable use in field, operator, fleet, or customer settings.
System-level experience with timing, threading, latency, and reliability, as well as release processes, deployment, CI/CD, quality assurance, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
Broad robotics experience across sensors, perception, tracking, control, middleware, and deployment; familiarity with sensor timestamps, time synchronization, or coordinate transforms is valuable.
Experience mentoring or growing a team while remaining an individual contributor.
ROS or ROS2 and experience with cameras, IMUs, encoders, or gimbal systems are useful. Defense, aerospace, safety-critical software, systems languages beyond C++, sensor fusion, or an active security clearance are also valuable.
Must meet applicable U.S. person requirements for export-controlled work.
Compensation & Benefits
Base salary: $235,000 to $305,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available. Location
On-site five days per week in San Francisco, California, United States, with range days included.
