Robotics / Autonomy Engineer

Matchmatch; Madrid; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Matchmatch is seeking a robotics software engineer to help build autonomous robotic systems for real-world operation. You will own critical software components across perception, controls and embedded interfaces, and work closely with hardware teams to ensure reliable integration.

The role emphasizes hands-on development in C++ and Python, ROS2, and simulation workflows, with opportunities to iterate from simulation to field testing in a small, technically focused team.

Qualifications

• Proven software engineering experience in robotics or autonomous systems.
• Hands-on experience with C++ and Python development.
• Experience with ROS2 and robotics simulation tools (Gazebo, NVIDIA Isaac).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and maintain software enabling autonomous robotic systems.
• Build scalable robotics software and integrate components across the autonomy stack.
• Develop simulation workflows using Gazebo and NVIDIA Isaac for sim-to-real.
• Collaborate with perception, controls, embedded and hardware engineers for system integration.
• Participate in real-world testing and debugging on physical robots.
• Own features from design through deployment and technical decisions.

Skills

C++

Python

ROS2

Gazebo

NVIDIA Isaac

System integration

English fluency

Tools

Gazebo

NVIDIA Isaac

Job description

We’re partnering with an early-stage European defence-tech company building autonomous robotic systems designed to operate in real-world environments.

The team is developing next-generation autonomy technology, with a current focus on aerial robotics and counter-drone systems. Their work brings together robotics, AI, perception, embedded software and physical hardware to create autonomous systems that can perform reliably beyond controlled laboratory conditions.

This is an opportunity to join a small, highly technical engineering team where you’ll have meaningful ownership of the robotics software, contribute to architectural decisions and see your work move from simulation to real-world testing.

What you'll own:

• Robotics & autonomy software: Design, develop and maintain software that enables autonomous robotic systems to perceive, navigate and operate in complex environments.

• Software architecture: Build scalable and reliable robotics software, working with C++, Python and ROS2 to develop and integrate components across the autonomy stack.

• Simulation & sim-to-real: Develop and improve simulation workflows using Gazebo and/or NVIDIA Isaac, helping bring algorithms and software from simulation onto physical platforms.

• System integration: Work closely with perception, controls, embedded and hardware engineers to ensure different parts of the system operate together reliably.

• Real-world testing: Participate in integration, debugging, validation and testing on physical robotic systems, using real-world results to improve software performance.

• Technical ownership: Take responsibility for your work from initial design through implementation, testing and deployment, contributing to technical decisions as the product evolves.

Who we are looking for:

• Strong software engineering experience in robotics, autonomous systems or a closely related field.

• Hands-on experience developing software in C++ and Python.

• Practical experience with ROS2, including developing and integrating robotics software components.

• Experience working with Gazebo and/or NVIDIA Isaac for robotics simulation.

• Good understanding of robotics software architecture and how different components interact within an autonomous system.

• Experience working with physical robotic platforms and solving integration challenges beyond simulation.

• Ability to take ownership of complex engineering problems and deliver practical, reliable solutions.

• Comfortable working in English within a collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering team.

Nice to have:

• Experience with UAVs, drones or other autonomous vehicles.

• Familiarity with PX4 or other autopilot frameworks.

• Experience with navigation, SLAM, sensor fusion or motion planning.

• Exposure to guidance and control algorithms.

• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing, field testing or embedded systems.

• Previous experience in defence, aerospace or other safety-critical engineering environments.

What kind of engineer will thrive here:

• Ownership-driven — you enjoy taking responsibility for complete features and systems, not just isolated development tasks.

• Hands-on and pragmatic — you’re equally comfortable writing software, investigating integration issues and testing on physical hardware.

• Comfortable with ambiguity — you can make progress when requirements are evolving and not every process has been established.

• Systems-minded — you understand that reliable autonomy depends on how software, sensors, algorithms and hardware work together.

• Curious and adaptable — you enjoy learning new technologies, exploring unfamiliar problems and working across engineering disciplines.

• Collaborative — you communicate clearly, share knowledge and enjoy solving challenging problems alongside a small technical team.

Why join now

You’ll be joining at an early stage, when important engineering decisions are still being made and individual contributions can have a direct impact on the product.

Unlike roles focused exclusively on research or simulation, this opportunity offers the chance to work across the full development cycle — from software architecture and algorithm integration to testing autonomous systems in the physical world.

You’ll work closely with experienced engineers across robotics, AI, perception and embedded systems, helping build European autonomous defence technology with real operational applications.

If you’re a robotics engineer who enjoys building complete systems, taking technical ownership and seeing your software operate on real hardware, we’d love to hear from you