Field-Ready Robotics Autonomy Safety Engineer

FieldAI; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

FieldAI’s Irvine team builds safety‑critical autonomous robotics systems for real deployments. You will own the independent safety layer, ensuring robots stay within safe envelopes across varied platforms, with tests in simulation and hardware‑in‑the‑loop.

Expect collaboration across planning, control, and integration teams to ship reliable autonomy. The role requires a strong background in robotics safety, real-time C++, Python tooling, and familiarity with ROS/ROS2 and sensor suites like LiDAR

Qualifications

• Master’s or higher in robotics, CS, EE, or related field or hands-on safety experience.
• 2+ years building safety, monitoring, or fallback systems for robots/autonomy.
• Strong foundation in planning and control with collision checking/trajectory validation.
• Deterministic, real-time, resource-bounded C++ for safety-critical systems.
• Solid Python skills for tooling, analysis, and test automation in Linux.
• Familiarity with mobile-robot safety standards (ISO 13482, 3691-4, 26262).
• Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 and sensors (LiDAR, depth cameras, IMUs).

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the safety layer independent from perception/planning and extend to new platforms.
• Build runtime monitors and collision backstops for commanded motions.
• Enforce safe operating envelopes with speed, zone, terrain, and proximity limits.
• Design fallback behaviors and logic for safe stop or slow down scenarios.
• Build watchdogs and health monitoring across sensors/computing/actuation.
• Lead hazard analyses and safety case development for new platforms.
• Verify safety layer in simulation, HIL testing, and field trials.
• Collaborate with planning/control/locomotion/integration teams to stay inside safety envelope.

Skills

C++ real-time programming

Python for tooling

Robotics safety verification

ROS/ROS2

LiDAR and sensor basics

Planning and control fundamentals

Safety standards familiarity

Education

Master’s degree or higher in Robotics, CS, EE, or related field

Bachelor’s with substantial hands-on experience in safety autonomous systems

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Job description

FieldAI’s Irvine team builds safety‑critical autonomous robotics systems for real deployments. You will own the independent safety layer, ensuring robots stay within safe envelopes across varied platforms, with tests in simulation and hardware‑in‑the‑loop.

Expect collaboration across planning, control, and integration teams to ship reliable autonomy. The role requires a strong background in robotics safety, real-time C++, Python tooling, and familiarity with ROS/ROS2 and sensor suites like LiDAR