Autonomy and Robotics Software Engineer

Mach Industries; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Equity grants

Professional development

Job summary

Mach Industries is seeking an Autonomy Software Engineer to design, build, and deploy an AI-forward autonomy stack for contested environments. You will develop perception, localization, navigation, planning, and mission autonomy across product lines, leveraging C++ on Linux with Python tooling and ML workflows.

This broad, technically deep role welcomes engineers who excel in one domain yet collaborate across adjacent areas, from estimation to ML, embedded systems, and flight-test integration,

Qualifications

• Proven strong software engineering in modern C++ on Linux and Python for tooling/ML.
• Experience turning research or prototypes into reliable deployment on hardware.
• Deep technical strength in at least one core domain such as perception, localization, navigation, planning, ML, or embedded autonomy.
• Experience building and debugging real-world robotics, autonomy, or embedded software systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and ship production autonomy software in modern C++ on Linux, with Python for tooling, analysis, and ML workflows.
• Build and integrate capabilities across perception, localization, sensor fusion, navigation, planning, and embedded inference.
• Take systems from prototype through simulation, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, flight test, and deployment.
• Analyze logs, simulation results, and test data to debug failures, improve robustness, and drive rapid iteration.
• Develop evaluation pipelines, metrics, and tooling for accuracy, latency, drift, handoff stability, and mission-level performance.
• Work closely with hardware, sensing, flight test, and ML teams to integrate algorithms onto real platforms.
• Optimize software and models for real-time deployment on embedded compute under tight SWaP and latency constraints.
• Design systems for degraded operation, fault detection, graceful degradation, and uncertainty-aware decision-making in contested environments.

Skills

C++ on Linux

Python tooling/ML

Robotics/autonomy software

Systems deployment

Perception/Localization

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in CS/Robotics/EE/ML, or 3+ yrs practical software exp.

Job description

About Mach Industries

Founded in 2022, Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. At the core of our mission is the commitment to delivering scalable, decentralized defense systems that enhance the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a workforce of approximately 350 employees, we operate with startup agility and ambition. Our vision is to redefine the future of warfare through cutting-edge manufacturing, innovation at speed, and unwavering focus on national security. We are dedicated to solving the next generation of warfare with lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security.

The Role

Mach Industries is building an AI-forward autonomy stack for contested environments where GNSS and other sensing may be unavailable, degraded, or denied. As an Autonomy Software Engineer, you will design, build, and deploy the software systems that power perception, localization, navigation, planning, and mission autonomy across our product lines.

This is a broad role for engineers who are deeply technical in one domain and highly effective across adjacent ones. You may come from estimation, perception, machine learning, embedded systems, or planning, but you are excited to work across the autonomy stack and deliver real capability from prototype to fielded system.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and ship production autonomy software in modern C++ on Linux, with Python for tooling, analysis, and ML workflows.
• Build and integrate capabilities across perception, localization, sensor fusion, navigation, planning, and embedded inference.
• Take systems from prototype through simulation, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, flight test, and deployment.
• Analyze logs, simulation results, and test data to debug failures, improve robustness, and drive rapid iteration.
• Develop evaluation pipelines, metrics, and tooling for accuracy, latency, drift, handoff stability, and mission-level performance.
• Work closely with hardware, sensing, flight test, and ML teams to integrate algorithms onto real platforms.
• Optimize software and models for real-time deployment on embedded compute under tight SWaP and latency constraints.
• Design systems for degraded operation, fault detection, graceful degradation, and uncertainty-aware decision-making in contested environments.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering, Machine Learning, or a related field, or 3+ years of equivalent practical experience as a software engineer.
• Strong software engineering skills in modern C++ on Linux and Python for tooling, analysis, or ML.
• Proven ability to take systems from research or prototype into reliable deployment on hardware.
• Deep technical strength in at least one core domain such as perception, localization and state estimation, navigation, planning, machine learning, or embedded autonomy.
• Experience building and debugging real-world robotics, autonomy, or embedded software systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with state estimation, SLAM, VIO, GNSS/INS fusion, relocalization, or multi-sensor fusion.
• Experience with perception systems for detection, segmentation, tracking, pose estimation, or classification in challenging real-world conditions.
• Experience training, fine-tuning, or deploying ML models for autonomy applications.
• Experience bringing up complex embedded systems across sensors, compute, vehicle interfaces, and autonomy software on embedded Linux or RTOS platforms.
• Experience with motion planning, mission autonomy, or decision-making under uncertainty.
• Strong engineering judgment across system-level tradeoffs including latency, accuracy, robustness, and operational reliability.
• High standards for validation through metrics, simulation, logs, and field testing.
• Experience with simulation, HITL, synthetic data, and sensor modeling.
• Experience in contested or degraded environments, including RF denial, GNSS degradation, low-light or night operations, or high-vibration platforms.
• Strong data and infrastructure practices, including dataset versioning, reproducible pipelines, CI-based validation, and evaluation tooling.

Disclosures

This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license. Mach participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and training, critical skills, and business considerations.

Mach offers benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Retirement plans
• Opportunities for professional development
• Highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers and are considered part of Mach's total compensation package

Mach is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. If you'd like to defend the American way of life, please reach out!