Embedded Software Engineer - Unix Systems & Platform Software

Proception Inc.; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Proception Inc. is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to advance Linux-based control, sensing, and robotics middleware for our hands platform. You will work across real-time Linux, device drivers, robotics middleware, and high-performance data pipelines enabling precise robotic manipulation.

The role requires strong C/C++ or Rust on embedded Linux, real-time Linux experience, and familiarity with ROS/ROS2. Collaboration across firmware, controls, and hardware teams is essential.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Robotics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields.
• Strong experience in C/C++ or Rust on embedded Linux systems.
• Experience with Linux system programming: threading, IPC, scheduling, memory management.
• Familiarity with real-time Linux (PREEMPT_RT), low-latency tuning, or real-time userland frameworks.
• Exposure to Linux build systems and distributions (Yocto, Buildroot, Debian-based systems).
• Knowledge of robotics-oriented communication protocols and interfaces (CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, EtherCAT).
• Experience building high-rate sensing or control pipelines (IMUs, force sensors, encoders, cameras).
• Comfortable with debugging tools: perf, strace, ltrace, gdb, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes.
• (+ ) Experience with ROS/ROS2, DDS, or robotics middleware.
• (+ ) Familiarity with GPU/accelerators, ZeroMQ, or shared-memory IPC.
• (+ ) Understanding of motor control, PID tuning, or robot kinematics.

Responsibilities

• Develop Linux-based software services for real-time sensing, actuation, and control coordination.
• Integrate low-level drivers and kernel modules for sensors, actuators, and high-speed communication.
• Optimize system performance through scheduling, CPU isolation, memory locking, and IO tuning.
• Implement fast, reliable IPC pipelines for AI, perception, and hardware control components.
• Build and maintain software infrastructure for distributed robotics (logging, monitoring, diagnostics).
• Develop tools and frameworks for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and continuous integration.
• Collaborate with firmware, controls, and hardware teams to build end-to-end robotic capabilities.
• Contribute to middleware and runtime systems that manage high-rate data in robotic hands.
• Work on cutting-edge embedded Linux systems for next-generation humanoid robotics.
• Collaborate with world-class roboticists, embedded engineers, and AI researchers.
• Access to advanced labs, robotic platforms, and hardware prototyping facilities.
• Competitive salary and equity compensation.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.

Skills

C/C++

Rust

embedded Linux

Linux system programming

real-time Linux

ROS/ROS2

GPU/accelerators

ZeroMQ

shared-memory IPC

PID tuning

robotics middleware

Education

BS or MS in Robotics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields

Tools

Yocto

Buildroot

Debian-based systems

GDB

Perf

strace

ltrace

Job description

Embedded Software Engineer - Unix Systems & Platform Software

Join our embedded software team to build the Linux-based control, communication, and sensing infrastructure that powers our next-generation robotic hands. You will work across real-time Linux, device drivers, robotics middleware, and high-performance data pipelines—enabling precise, responsive, and safety-critical robotic manipulation.

Requirements

• 01 BS or MS in Robotics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields
• 02 Strong experience in C/C++ or Rust on embedded Linux systems
• 03 Experience with Linux system programming: threading, IPC, scheduling, memory management
• 04 Familiarity with real-time Linux (PREEMPT_RT), low-latency tuning, or real-time userland frameworks
• 06 Exposure to Linux build systems and distributions (Yocto, Buildroot, Debian-based systems)
• 07 Knowledge of robotics-oriented communication protocols and interfaces (CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, EtherCAT)
• 08 Experience building high-rate sensing or control pipelines (IMUs, force sensors, encoders, cameras)
• 09 Comfortable with debugging tools: perf, strace, ltrace, gdb, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes
• 10 (+) Experience with ROS/ROS2, DDS, or robotics middleware
• 11 (+) Familiarity with GPU/accelerators, ZeroMQ, or shared-memory IPC
• 12 (+) Understanding of motor control, PID tuning, or robot kinematics

Details & responsibilities

• 01 Develop Linux-based software services for real-time sensing, actuation, and control coordination
• 02 Integrate low-level drivers and kernel modules for sensors, actuators, and high-speed communication
• 03 Optimize system performance through scheduling, CPU isolation, memory locking, and IO tuning
• 04 Implement fast, reliable IPC pipelines for AI, perception, and hardware control components
• 05 Build and maintain software infrastructure for distributed robotics (logging, monitoring, diagnostics)
• 06 Develop tools and frameworks for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and continuous integration
• 07 Collaborate with firmware, controls, and hardware teams to build end-to-end robotic capabilities
• 08 Contribute to middleware and runtime systems that manage high-rate data in robotic hands
• 01 Work on cutting-edge embedded Linux systems for next-generation humanoid robotics
• 02 Collaborate with world-class roboticists, embedded engineers, and AI researchers
• 03 Access to advanced labs, robotic platforms, and hardware prototyping facilities
• 04 Competitive salary and equity compensation
• 05 Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage