Robotics Controls Engineer

Andromeda Surgical; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Andromeda Surgical is seeking a Robotics Controls Engineer to design and deploy control systems for its surgical robotic platform. You will bridge controls theory and production code, working with software, hardware and product teams to ship reliable real-world solutions.

You will implement control algorithms, develop production C++/Python software, and contribute to system validation from concept to deployment in fast-paced startup environments.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in robotics and control systems.
• Experience implementing control algorithms in real-world systems.
• Understanding of dynamics, state estimation, feedback control, and motion planning.
• Ability to reason through system-level tradeoffs and constraints.
• Proficient in writing production-quality C++ code.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement control algorithms for robotic systems.
• Develop production software in C++ and Python.
• Design, test, and deploy robotic features from concept through production.
• Build motion control, estimation, and robotic system behaviors.
• Write tests and validation as a core part of how you build.
• Debug complex issues across software, controls, and hardware systems.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to bring new capabilities to the robot.
• Participate in real-world system validation and deployment.

Skills

Robotics

Control systems

C++ programming

Python programming

Testing & validation

Debugging

System integration

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Embedded systems

Job description

We are looking for a Robotics Controls Engineer to help build the control systems that power our surgical robotic platform. This is a hands‑on engineering role focused on developing, testing, and deploying real robotic systems. You will work closely with software, hardware, and product teams to design solutions that operate reliably in real- world surgical environments. This is not a research-only role. We are looking for engineers who can bridge controls theory and implementation, write production code, and take ownership of problems from concept to deployment.

What You’ll Do

• Design and implement control algorithms for robotic systems.
• Develop production software in C++ and Python.
• Design, test, and deploy robotic features from concept through production.
• Build motion control, estimation, and robotic system behaviors.
• Write tests and validation as a core part of how you build, not an afterthought.
• Debug complex issues across software, controls, and hardware systems.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to bring new capabilities to the robot.
• Participate in real-world system validation and deployment.

What We’re Looking For

Controls & Robotics

• Strong foundation in robotics and control systems.
• Experience implementing control algorithms in real- world systems.
• Understanding of dynamics, state estimation, feedback control, and motion planning.
• Ability to reason through system-level tradeoffs and constraints.

Software Engineering

You must be able to write and ship production code in C++ on your own. You don’t need to be a pure software engineer, but you do need to code independently and write real, maintainable code, not just prototypes or pseudocode.

• Ability to write maintainable, modular, production-quality code.
• Experience designing software that can be extended and maintained by a team.
• Experience writing tests and validating software behavior.
• Strong debugging skills.

Systems Thinking & Ownership

• Ability to break down ambiguous problems and identify missing requirements.
• Comfortable making engineering decisions with incomplete information.
• Strong problem-solving skills and bias toward action.
• Ability to independently drive projects forward.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving environment with evolving priorities.
• Willingness to seek feedback, iterate quickly, and collaborate closely with teammates.

Nice to have

• Experience developing and deploying controls solutions in robotics, autonomous systems, aerospace, industrial automation, or other controls-intensive environments.
• Experience with MPC, iLQR, or optimal control methods.
• Experience with ROS or ROS2.
• Experience with robotic manipulators or multi-DOF systems.
• Experience with embedded systems.
• Experience working in startup environments.

What Success Looks Like

Successful engineers at Andromeda combine strong controls fundamentals with practical engineering execution. They take ownership, work well with uncertainty, and are comfortable making decisions with incomplete information. They collaborate effectively across software, hardware, robotics, and clinical teams, seek feedback early, and continuously refine their work. They are excited by challenging problems, move quickly from idea to implementation, and care about building systems that have real- world impact.