Senior Robotics Engineer

Ocean Infinity; Southampton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Ocean Infinity is seeking a Senior Robotics Engineer to design, build and integrate core robotics software across our fleet of uncrewed marine vessels. This senior role sits within the Robotics & Autonomy team, blending hands-on engineering with system architecture, hardware integration and technical leadership.

You will shape how robotics software is built, deployed and supported in real-world maritime operations, focusing on control, planning, interfaces and reliable live deployments across

Qualifications

• Must have MSc/PhD in robotics, mechatronics, CS or related field.
• Production-quality C++ and ROS2 experience.
• Experience with hardware integration and sensors/actuators.
• Knowledge of Linux and CI/CD.
• Willing to travel occasionally.
• Experience with modular robotics architectures.

Responsibilities

• Design and build ROS2 nodes and launch configs for vessel control and planning.
• Integrate software with sensors, actuators, PLCs, and embedded controllers.
• Create reusable platform abstractions across vessels and payloads.
• Hands-on lab testing, integration, and field deployments.
• Debug deployed systems using logs, telemetry, and replay tools.
• Review code, mentor teammates, and unblock integration issues.
• Collaborate with product and operations to deliver solutions.
• Improve testing, observability, and CI for robotics software.

Skills

ROS2

C++

Hardware integration

Linux

Git CI

Testing & debugging

System architecture

Education

MSc/PhD in robotics

Tools

Docker

ROS2 tooling

Job description

Application End Date

We are using and creating technology to transform operations at sea to enable people and the planet to thrive.

Worker Type

Employee

We are open-minded and fearless in our approach to innovation and don't believe in boundaries. We challenge everything and have massive ambitions to drag aging industries into the tech era.

We take safety, equality and education very seriously, and our responsibilities don't stop at our front door. Our business is built on the belief that there's definitely a more environmentally responsible way to operate at sea.

We employ people who share our core values. We expect our people to be courageous, trustworthy, and conscientious, driven by a desire to do the right thing. We strive for excellence, work collaboratively, and are genuinely excited by our work.

We offer opportunities for our people to develop beyond their role and span a multitude of disciplines. These are open to all, regardless of background and experience level. Working with us means being part of a team that is harnessing technology and creativity to disrupt a traditional industry.

We are not your average workplace.

Ocean Infinity is looking for a Senior Robotics Engineer to design, build and integrate core robotics software across our fleet of uncrewed marine vessels. This is a senior technical role within the Robotics & Autonomy team, combining hands-on engineering with system-level architecture, hardware integration and technical leadership.

You'll play a key role in shaping how our next-generation robotics software is built, deployed and supported across real-world maritime operations, and you'll be working on the core platform capabilities that other engineers, vessels and product teams build on top of: control and planning systems, hardware integration, communication interfaces, and reliable deployment into live operational environments.

What you will do

• Design and build ROS2 nodes, services, actions and launch configurations for vessel control, navigation and motion planning.
• Integrate robotics software with real hardware - sensors, actuators, PLCs, embedded controllers, and other third-party systems.
• Build platform abstractions that are reusable across multiple vessels and payloads, designed with extensibility in mind.
• Get hands-on during lab testing, integration work and field deployments to validate that what you've built holds up in real operating conditions.
• Debug issues on deployed systems using logs, telemetry and replay tooling, and drive them to root cause.
• Review other engineers' code and designs, mentor other team members, and unblock people on integration or architecture problems.
• Work directly with product and operations teams to turn operational needs into working technical solutions.
• Improve testing, observability and monitoring for robotics software so issues surface earlier and are easier to diagnose.

Who you are

• MSc/PhD in robotics, mechatronics, computer science, or a related field.
• Strong C++ developer, with code written to production quality.
• Willing to occasionally travel for to support integration, testing, and deployments.
• Experience using ROS2 in a production or field-deployed environment.
• Deep knowledge of common robotics middleware concepts: nodes, topics, services, actions, transforms, launch/config systems.
• Experience working with hardware integration: sensors, actuators, PLCs, embedded controllers, vessel/payload interfaces.
• Knowledge of common industrial autonomation protocols: Modbus, TCP/IP, UDP, CAN, serial, or similar.
• Knowledge of the Linux development environment
• Understanding of git, code review, automated testing and CI/CD
• A pragmatic approach to engineering: able to balance technical quality, delivery needs and real-world constraints.

Desirable

• Understanding of modern approaches to navigation, motion planning, behaviour trees or autonomous task orchestration.
• Working knowledge of Docker and containerised robotics deployments.
• Experience working with real-time or safety-/mission-critical systems.
• Experience developing systems using simulation, digital twins, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Previous experience in marine, defence, or aerospace.

Maximum salary for this role

£100k depending on location

Salary: The salary varies for this position as we are recruiting in multiple regional locations and job grades. The salary process is based on skills, abilities, and experience required.

What You Can Expect

At Ocean Infinity, we believe in creating equal opportunities for all, celebrating each and everyone's differences. We are driven by transforming the industry, through our technology, thoughts, behaviours and actions. Being inclusive and respectful to all is fundamental to who we are. It is the right thing to do and enables innovation and creativity to thrive.

There is more work to be done, and we know that we aren't perfect, but our commitment to these values is unwavering. They are central to our mission and the impact we have on the industry, meaning, we cannot live without them.