Principal Robotics Software Engineer

Wilder Systems Robots; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

PTO

Job summary

Wilder Systems Robots is looking for a Robotics Software Engineer II in Austin, Texas. This role is pivotal in setting the technical strategy for robotics software and engaging deeply with high-stakes projects.

You will lead significant technology decisions, collaborate with leadership, and mentor engineers while remaining hands-on with challenging technical tasks. The position offers competitive compensation and benefits.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in technical leadership and strategy in robotics.
• Proven ability to influence technical direction at the executive level.
• History of successful long-term technical decisions.

Responsibilities

• Set the multi-year technical strategy for robotics software.
• Make consequential architecture decisions for the organization.
• Partner with engineering leadership to align strategy with business goals.
• Mentor staff and elevate engineering standards.
• Stay hands-on with prototypes and technical challenges.

Skills

C++

Python

Robotics software architecture

Technical leadership

Systems integration

Job description

Wilder Systems builds robots that do precision work across aerospace manufacturing and MRO — drilling, fastening, sanding, and inspection — on systems deployed to factory floors and flight lines worldwide. As a Principal Robotics Software Engineer, you set the technical strategy for Wilder's robotics software and own the longest-horizon, highest-stakes bets — what we build and how, over years. This is the most senior individual-contributor role on the track, with no direct reports: your impact is org-wide and durable, through strategy, architecture, and the engineers you elevate. At our size, you stay close to the hardest technical work even as you set direction.

Position: Robotics Software Engineer II

Location: Onsite — Austin, TX

Job Summary

Wilder Systems builds robots that do precision work across aerospace manufacturing and MRO — drilling, fastening, sanding, and inspection — on systems deployed to factory floors and flight lines worldwide. As a Principal Robotics Software Engineer, you set the technical strategy for Wilder's robotics software and own the longest-horizon, highest-stakes bets — what we build and how, over years. This is the most senior individual-contributor role on the track, with no direct reports: your impact is org-wide and durable, through strategy, architecture, and the engineers you elevate. At our size, you stay close to the hardest technical work even as you set direction.

What You’ll Do

• Technical strategy — set the multi-year technical strategy and architecture for robotics software, aligned to company goals, and decide where we invest technically.
• Highest-stakes bets — own the hardest, most consequential technology and architecture decisions across the org, where being right matters for years.
• Company alignment — partner with engineering and company leadership to align technical direction with business goals, and turn strategy into technical plans teams can execute.
• Elevate the bar — grow staff and senior engineers through mentorship and review, and establish the technical principles the org builds on.
• Stay close to the work — remain deeply hands-on where it counts: the hardest prototypes, architectures, and fielded problems.

Required Experience

• An extensive track record of org- or company-level technical leadership and strategy in robotics or a closely related field.
• Deep, broad authority across robotics software — perception, motion, calibration, integration, systems, and the cloud/fleet layer.
• A history of owning multi-year technical bets that paid off.
• Mastery of C++ and Python and modern robotics architecture.
• The ability to align technical strategy with company goals and influence at the executive level.
• Willingness to stay technically hands-on at our size.

Preferred Experience

• Setting technical strategy for a robotics or hardware organization.
• Deep specialization that advances the state of the art (perception, motion, ML, or large-scale simulation).
• Fleet, cloud, and telemetry architecture at scale.
• External technical presence — talks, standards, publications, or customer and partner credibility.

About Wilder

Wilder Systems designs, manufactures, and installs robotic systems for industrial manufacturing applications in the aerospace industry. Our tools are used in direct manufacturing and maintenance of aerospace structures, operating as a growing global fleet on factory floors and flight lines worldwide. We have a dynamic, talented, and collaborative engineering team and want those who are energized by solving our customers' toughest problems.

Compensation

$180,000-$225,000 Base

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• PTO

General Requirements

US Citizen or Permanent Resident

Travel — Up to 25% for system deployments, on-site integration, and customer support.