C++ Control Systems Engineer

Fieldwork Robotics; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

On-site parking (UK)

Profit sharing / share options

Casual dress

Company events & social activities

Career progression

Job summary

Fieldwork Robotics is hiring a ROS 2 C++ Control Systems Engineer to advance our autonomous agricultural robotics platform. You will bridge high-level motion planning with low-level motor control, and contribute to the ROS 1 to ROS 2 transition.

Real-world testing on Fieldwork robots in farms is part of the role. You will work on MoveIt2 planning, low-level PID and joint actuation, and ensure deterministic real-time behavior.

Qualifications

• Proven experience with ROS 2 motion control.
• 3+ years in modern C++ in robotics.
• Strong low-level / embedded C++ experience.
• Experience with motion planning and robotics control systems.
• Hands-on testing on real robots in farm environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain C++ software for robotics applications.
• Implement control systems and motion pipelines for robotic arms.
• Collaborate with robotics, mechanical, and electronics teams.
• Integrate software with hardware and manufacturing processes.
• Test, debug, and verify code prior to production deployment.
• Conduct real-world testing on Fieldwork robots in UK & Portugal.

Skills

ROS 2 motion control

C++ (modern)

Low-level/embedded C++

Motion planning

Linux development

Git version control

Jira & Agile

Real-world robot testing

Tools

Gazebo

Isaac Sim

NVIDIA Jetson

CAN interfaces

Job description

Company Overview

Fieldwork Robotics is a pioneering autonomous robotics company developing modular, multi-crop, soft and adaptive robots designed to operate in real-world, non-controllable environments such as agricultural fields. Our mission is to transform farming through intelligent, scalable robotic systems that improve productivity, sustainability, and efficiency.

We operate a growing R&D headquarters in Cambridge and are establishing a new engineering hub in Lisbon following the incorporation of our Portugal subsidiary. Our teams work collaboratively across hardware, software, and operations to deliver reliable, production-grade autonomous robots.

The Role

We are hiring a ROS 2 C++ Control Systems Engineer to work on the development of our next-generation autonomous agricultural robotics platform. This role sits at the core of robot motion, control, and manipulation — bridging high-level motion planning and low-level real-time motor control.

You will play a key role in the transition of our platform from ROS 1 to ROS 2 and in the development of robotic arm control, coordination, and performance optimisation. This is a hands‑on engineering role with real‑world deployment impact, including testing on physical robots in operational farm environments.

As a high‑growth robotics company, this role oers strong opportunities for technical growth, responsibility expansion, and long‑term career development.

What You’ll Be Working On

High‑Level Motion & Planning (MoveIt2) in a complex scene

• High-level motion planning


• Collision-free path planning


• Trajectory generation (positions, velocities, accelerations)


• Planning scene management & collision checking

Low‑Level Control & Real‑Time Systems

• PID control loops


• Motor control and joint-level actuation


• Closing real‑time control loops on joints


• Ensuring deterministic, real‑time behavior


• Translating planned trajectories into executable motor commands

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain C++ software for robotics applications


• Implement control systems, and motion pipelines for robotic arms


• Collaborate closely with robotics, mechanical, and electronics teams


• Integrate software with hardware and manufacturing processes


• Test, debug, and verify code prior to production deployment


• Conduct real-world testing on Fieldwork robots in polytunnels and farms (UK & Portugal)


• Contribute across the full system lifecycle: concept, design, development, validation, and production transfer


• Produce clear technical documentation (requirements, test plans, software design)

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience with ROS 2 motion control


• Minimum 3+ years industry experience in modern C++ (C++11+, C++20preferred)


• Strong low-level / embedded C++ experience (e.g. CAN interfaces, hardwarecommunication)


• Control systems experience:
  
  
  
  • Motor setup
  
  
  • PID tuning
  
  
  • Integration testing
  
  
  
  


• Strong background in:
  
  
  
  • Motion planning
  
  
  • Applied mathematics for robotics
  
  
  
  


• Linux development experience


• Strong C++ focus (this is not a Python role)

Additional / Desirable Skills

• Experience with:
  
  
  
  • Jira and Agile workflows
  
  
  • Testing and Quality Engineering
  
  
  • Version control with Git
  
  
  
  


• Simulation & testing tools:
  
  
  
  • Gazebo
  
  
  • Isaac Sim
  
  
  
  


• Hardware integration experience:
  
  
  
  • Embedded robotics platforms (e.g. NVIDIA Jetson)
  
  
  • Low Level debugging and communications interfaces
  
  
  
  


• Experience working on collaborative, multi-developer codebases


• Strong team ethic with ability to work independently and take ownership

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package


• Profit sharing / share options


• Hybrid working model


• Flexible working hours


• On-site parking (UK)


• Casual dress


• Company events & social activities


• Career progression in a fast‑scaling robotics company


• Opportunity to work on real-world autonomous robots deployed in production environments

This role is ideal for engineers who want to work at the intersection of planning, control, and real-world robotics — not simulations only, but physical systems operating in the field.