Principal Robotics Software Engineer

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

Job summary

Wwshemi, located in San Francisco, CA, seeks a senior robotics software engineer to own production C++ across the robotics software stack and to drive reliable field operation on real hardware. You will mentor the robotics team while establishing timing and safety contracts across perception, tracking, control, and autonomy, and turn prototypes into repeatable field releases with CI/CD and hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Note: U.S. export controls apply; visa sponsorship is not available.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of hands-on robotics software engineering experience.
• Production C++ experience on physical robotic systems.
• Experience taking a robotics stack from prototype to repeatable use in field.
• U.S. Person due to export control requirements.

Responsibilities

• Write and own production C++ across the robotics software stack.
• Establish timing and safety contracts across perception, tracking, control, and autonomy.
• Turn prototype software into repeatable field releases through packaging, deployment, CI/CD, QA, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Mentor and grow the robotics team while remaining hands-on with code.
• Debug hardware and field issues during range tests.

Skills

Production C++

Robotics software

ROS/ROS2

CI/CD

Mentoring

HIL testing

Timing/latency management

Job description

This listing's locations On-site - San Francisco, California, United States

Employment Full-time

Workplace On site

Compensation $235000–305000 per year

Join a defense technology team developing autonomous robotic systems for countering unmanned aircraft. As the most senior individual contributor on the robotics team, you will write critical production code and help ensure the system performs reliably on real hardware.

What You'll Do

• Write and own production C++ across the robotics software stack.
• Establish timing and safety contracts across perception, tracking, control, and autonomy.
• Turn prototype software into repeatable field releases through packaging, deployment, CI/CD, quality assurance, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Mentor and grow the robotics team while remaining hands-on with code.
• Debug hardware and field issues, including during regular range tests.

What We're Looking For

• At least 10 years of hands-on robotics software engineering experience, with shipped systems and recent coding experience.
• Production C++ experience on physical robotic systems, with breadth across sensors, perception, tracking, control, middleware, and deployment.
• Experience taking a robotics stack from prototype to repeatable use in field, operator, fleet, or customer settings.
• Experience owning system-wide timing, threading, and latency, and building release, CI/CD, quality assurance, or hardware-in-the-loop processes.
• Experience mentoring or growing a team while continuing to code as an individual contributor.
• Familiarity with ROS or ROS2, cameras, IMUs, encoders, or gimbal systems is useful. Defense, aerospace, or safety-critical software experience and an active security clearance are also valued.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to export control requirements.

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

Location

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