Principal Robotics Software Engineer

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.