Principal Robotics Software Engineer

Wwshemi; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 235,000 - 305,000; Full time

Job summary

Wwshemi in San Francisco, CA, is seeking a senior robotics software engineer to own production C++ across the robotics stack and drive field-ready releases. You will define timing and safety contracts, package and deploy software, and contribute hands-on code while mentoring teammates.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years of robotics software experience, ROS/ROS2 expertise, and a track record of shipping reliable systems on real hardware. On-site work is required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on robotics software engineering experience and a record of shipping systems.
• Recent, hands-on production C++ experience on physical robotic systems.
• Experience taking robotics software from prototype to repeatable use in field settings.
• System-level experience with timing, threading, latency, and reliability; release processes, deployment, CI/CD, QA or HIL testing.
• Broad robotics experience across sensors, perception, tracking, control, middleware, and deployment.

Responsibilities

• Write and own production C++ across the robotics stack.
• Define and maintain system-wide timing and safety contracts from perception through control.
• Take software from prototype to dependable field releases, including packaging, deployment, CI/CD, QA, and HIL testing.
• Mentor and grow the robotics team while continuing to contribute code directly.
• Debug hardware and field issues during range tests.

Skills

Robotics software

C++ production

Mentoring

CI/CD

HIL testing

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Cameras

IMUs

Encoders

Gimbal systems

Job description

About the Role

Join the robotics team at a defense technology company developing autonomous systems to detect and counter unmanned aerial threats. This is a senior, hands-on individual contributor role focused on production robotics software running on real hardware.

What You'll Do

• Write and own critical production C++ across the robotics stack.
• Define and maintain system-wide timing and safety contracts from perception through control.
• Take software from prototype to dependable field releases, including packaging, deployment, CI/CD, quality assurance, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Mentor and grow the robotics team while continuing to contribute code directly.
• Debug hardware and field issues, including during regular range tests.

What We're Looking For

• 10 or more years of hands-on robotics software engineering experience and a record of shipping systems.
• Recent, hands-on production C++ experience on physical robotic systems.
• Experience taking robotics software from prototype to repeatable use in field, operator, fleet, or customer settings.
• System-level experience with timing, threading, latency, and reliability, as well as release processes, deployment, CI/CD, quality assurance, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Broad robotics experience across sensors, perception, tracking, control, middleware, and deployment; familiarity with sensor timestamps, time synchronization, or coordinate transforms is valuable.
• Experience mentoring or growing a team while remaining an individual contributor.
• ROS or ROS2 and experience with cameras, IMUs, encoders, or gimbal systems are useful. Defense, aerospace, safety-critical software, systems languages beyond C++, sensor fusion, or an active security clearance are also valuable.
• Must meet applicable U.S. person requirements for export-controlled work.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: $235,000 to $305,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

On-site five days per week in San Francisco, California, United States, with range days included.