Principal Robotics Software Engineer

Role details

ABOUT THE ROLE Join a defense technology team building autonomous robotic systems for countering unmanned aircraft. As the robotics team's most senior individual contributor, you will write critical C++ code and help take the full stack from sensor input through control and autonomy to reliable field use. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Write and own production C++ across the robotics software stack. - Define timing, threading, latency, and safety contracts across perception and control. - Move prototype software toward reliable field deployment through release processes, packaging, CI/CD, QA, and hardware-in-the-loop testing. - Mentor and grow the robotics team while remaining hands-on in development. - Debug issues on real hardware, including during regular field tests. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - 10 or more years of hands-on robotics software engineering experience, including shipped systems. - Recent experience writing production C++ for physical robotic systems. - Experience taking a robotics stack from prototype to repeatable release for field, operator, fleet, or customer use. - Broad experience across sensors, perception, tracking, control, middleware, and deployment. - Experience owning system-wide timing, threading, and latency, and building CI/CD, QA, or hardware-in-the-loop testing for robotics or hardware-facing software. - Experience with formal software release, packaging, and deployment, and mentoring a team while continuing to code. - U.S. Person status is required. ROS or ROS 2, cameras, IMUs, encoders, gimbal or turret systems, sensor fusion, and safety-critical or defense software experience are beneficial. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS Base salary is $235,000 to $305,000 USD annually. Visa sponsorship is not available. LOCATION On-site, five days per week in San Francisco, California, United States. Regular field test days are included.