R&D Software Engineer – Automated 3D Navigation for Pipeline Robotics

Bonbon-X Limited; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 520,000 - 780,000; Full time

Job summary

Bonbon-X Limited in Hong Kong is seeking an R&D Software Engineer to develop automated 3D navigation for underground pipeline robotics. You will contribute to localization, mapping, 3D reconstruction, and real-time telemetry within GPS-denied environments.

You will work with Python and C++ in ROS/ROS2-based frameworks, integrate sensors including LiDAR, IMU, cameras, and edge devices, and participate in field trials to validate navigation accuracy and system reliability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Engineering, Applied Physics, Robotics, Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related STEM.
• Experience in robotics software development, embedded systems, sensor integration, automation, or robotic control.
• Knowledge of Python and / or C++ programming.
• Experience with Linux-based development environments.
• Familiarity with ROS / ROS2, SLAM, robot navigation, mobile robots, AGV systems, LiDAR, camera systems, IMU, Raspberry Pi, Jetson, ESP32, Arduino, or similar platforms would be an advantage.
• Ability to conduct experiments, analyse technical problems, document engineering results, and support real-world system testing.

Responsibilities

• Research and develop automated 3D navigation methods for pipeline inspection robots in confined, GPS-denied environments.
• Study and implement sensor fusion using wheel odometry, IMU, camera, LiDAR, depth sensor, encoders to estimate position and pipe geometry.
• Develop software modules for localisation, mapping, path tracking, 3D trajectory reconstruction, obstacle detection, and navigation decision support.
• Evaluate ROS / ROS2 navigation frameworks and their applicability to Bonbon-X’s pipeline robot.
• Build Python / C++ tools for robot control, data acquisition, live monitoring, sensor calibration, and field-test diagnostics.
• Develop real-time data streaming and visualisation tools for movement status, sensor readings, and navigation data.
• Support integration of edge computing platforms, embedded controllers, sensors, and communication modules.
• Design and conduct lab experiments to validate navigation accuracy and system performance.
• Participate in field trials, analyze failures, and propose improvements.
• Prepare technical documentation and progress reports for internal review and reporting.

Skills

Python

C++

ROS/ROS2

Linux

Sensor fusion

Embedded systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree or above in Engineering or related STEM

Tools

Raspberry Pi

Jetson

LiDAR

IMU

Camera systems

Job description

R&D Software Engineer – Automated 3D Navigation for Pipeline Robotics

Job Nature: Research and Development position under the Research Talent Hub scheme

Job Objective

The R&D Engineer will focus on the study and development of automated 3D navigation technologies for underground pipeline inspection robots. The role aims to improve the robot’s ability to understand its position, movement, orientation, pipeline geometry, and inspection path inside confined and GPS-denied pipeline environments.

The candidate will support Bonbon-X Limited in developing a more intelligent pipeline robotic platform capable of semi-autonomous or automated navigation, sensor-based localisation, 3D path reconstruction, real‑time telemetry, and reliable field deployment in complex underground pipe networks.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and develop automated 3D navigation methods for pipeline inspection robots operating in confined, dark, narrow, and GPS-denied pipe environments.
• Study and implement sensor‑fusion methods using data from wheel odometry, IMU, camera, LiDAR, depth sensor, encoder, or other onboard sensors to estimate robot position, orientation, movement trajectory, and pipe geometry.
• Develop software modules for robotic localisation, mapping, path tracking, 3D trajectory reconstruction, obstacle detection, and navigation decision support.
• Evaluate ROS / ROS2‑based navigation frameworks, including SLAM, navigation stack, path planning, sensor drivers, and robot middleware, and assess their suitability for Bonbon-X’s pipeline robot platform.
• Build Python / C++ software tools for robot control, data acquisition, live monitoring, sensor calibration, navigation testing, and field‑test diagnostics.
• Develop real‑time data streaming and visualisation tools to display robot movement status, sensor readings, inspection path, navigation data, and system health during laboratory and field tests.
• Support integration of edge computing platforms, embedded controllers, onboard sensors, communication modules, and robot control systems.
• Design and conduct laboratory experiments to validate navigation accuracy, movement stability, sensor reliability, communication latency, and autonomous navigation performance.
• Participate in field trials of pipeline inspection robots, collect test data, analyse navigation failure cases, and propose engineering improvements.
• Prepare technical documentation, test reports, experiment records, system diagrams, software notes, and R&D progress reports for internal review and RTH project reporting.

Research Focus Areas

The candidate will mainly work on the following research areas:

• Automated 3D navigation inside underground pipelines.
• Robotic localisation in GPS-denied pipe environments.
• Sensor fusion for pipeline robot movement and orientation estimation.
• ROS / ROS2 navigation framework adaptation for compact pipeline robots.
• 3D pipeline path reconstruction and inspection route mapping.
• Real‑time telemetry and diagnostic software for field deployment.
• Navigation reliability improvement for bends, slopes, wet surfaces, long‑distance inspection, and confined pipe structures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Engineering, Applied Physics, Robotics, Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related STEM discipline.
• Experience in robotics software development, embedded systems, sensor integration, automation, or robotic control.
• Knowledge of Python and / or C++ programming.
• Experience with Linux‑based development environments.
• Familiarity with ROS / ROS2, SLAM, robot navigation, mobile robots, AGV systems, LiDAR, camera systems, IMU, Raspberry Pi, Jetson, ESP32, Arduino, or similar platforms would be an advantage.
• Ability to conduct experiments, analyse technical problems, document engineering results, and support real‑world system testing.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in AGV, mobile robot, TurtleBot, Jetson‑based robot, ROS / ROS2 navigation, LiDAR mapping, or mobile mapping projects.
• Experience in sensor data acquisition, real‑time data visualisation, hardware debugging, or field‑testing tools.
• Experience in underground, industrial, inspection, confined‑space, or harsh‑environment robotics would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of AI‑assisted robot control, edge computing, computer vision, or 3D reconstruction would be a plus.
• Good command of Cantonese, Mandarin, and English for technical communication, supplier coordination, customer discussion, and documentation.
• Prototype software module for pipeline robot navigation and localisation.
• Sensor integration and data acquisition framework for navigation‑related testing.
• Experimental setup for validating 3D navigation accuracy and robot movement trajectory.
• Real‑time monitoring and visualisation tool for robot status and navigation data.
• Field‑test reports analysing navigation performance, failure cases, and improvement directions.
• Technical documentation supporting future product development and commercial deployment of Bonbon‑X pipeline inspection robots.

Relevance to Bonbon-X Limited

Bonbon-X Limited is developing underground pipeline inspection robots for real‑world deployment. Automated navigation inside pipelines is technically challenging because the robot operates in a confined, dark, wet, GPS‑denied, and structurally repetitive environment. The company therefore requires R&D talent who can combine robotics software, sensor integration, embedded systems, mapping, real‑time data tools, and practical field‑testing capability.

This position will strengthen the company’s ability to develop reliable navigation functions, improve inspection efficiency, reduce operator workload, and support the long‑term development of intelligent and semi‑autonomous pipeline robotic systems.