Reports to: Head of Software & Controls
Workplace Type: Hybrid (onsite in Santa Cruz 3 days/week)
Overview:Imagine building life-saving robotics technology while being minutes from world-class surf breaks and redwood forests. We're developing a groundbreaking robotic platform that gives surgeons superhuman precision in transcatheter valve deployment - and we need an exceptional Staff Robotics Software Engineer to help us push the boundaries of what's possible in medical robotics.
You'll be architecting and implementing the real-time software that translates a surgeon's intent into precise robotic motion, working at the intersection of advanced robotics, real-time systems, and life-critical medical devices. This isn't just another robotics job - you're building systems where milliseconds matter and reliability saves lives.
What You'll Do:- Design and implement high-performance C++ software for real-time robotic control systems, with direct responsibility for actuator control, bring-up, and testing
- Architect and develop EtherCAT-based distributed control systems for multi-axis robotic coordination
- Leverage DDS (Data Distribution Service) and modern middleware for reliable, low-latency inter-process communication in complex robotic systems
- Optimize real-time performance in safety-critical contexts, ensuring deterministic behavior under all operating conditions
- Lead motor controller integration, from low-level driver development to application-level software and state machines
- Translate clinical and user needs into design requirements. Develop software designs, implement designs into testable prototypes, and bring these features to product launch
- Develop real time and/or non-real time software, creating features and infrastructure that supports safe and effective procedures
- Align individual work to best support company goals. Identifying high risk items and being part of developing solutions
- Document and communicate your work through design reviews and as appropriate released documents as part of the product development process
- Identify gaps and pitch in as needed to ensure that the team meets their goals and objectives
Skills:- Expert C++ proficiency with deep understanding of modern C++ (14/17/20) in production systems
- Proven experience with actuator control including bring-up, characterization, and testing
- Motor controller and encoder integration expertise
- EtherCAT implementation experience for real-time distributed control
- Deep expertise with DDS and middleware systems - you understand QoS policies, discovery protocols, and have optimized publish-subscribe architectures for real-time performance
- Real-time systems expertise - you understand priority inversion, jitter, and deterministic scheduling
- Medical robotics or safety-critical systems background - you know why "it works most of the time" isn't good enough
- Strong background in object-oriented design and programming, with the ability to create new designs or improve existing ones to ensure clear separation of concerns
- Understanding of how early design decisions cascade into outcomes later. Ability to make smart decisions regarding clinical workflow, regulations, and risk management to save time and effort later
Strongly Preferred:- ROS1 or ROS2 experience - you've built production systems with ROS and understand its real-time capabilities
- Python experience
- Developing software that runs on Linux systems
- Knowledge of regulatory standards (FDA, CE Mark)
- Low-latency image/video streaming and GUI integration
Requirements:- Experience & Background:
- BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent
- 8+ years of hands-on development in robotics or embedded systems
- Track record of shipping complex robotic systems to production
- Experience navigating ambiguity while delivering concrete results
- Experience with designing, testing, and shipping software for medical device capital equipment or similar safety critical systems
- Experience with medical device development process, design control, risk management, design verification, and regulatory processes, or experience with similar safety critical system development processes
- Ability to work in a hybrid work environment, working onsite 3 days a week, at our Santa Cruz, CA office. In the future, there will be an option to work one day from our satellite office in Los Altos, CA.
