Robotics Software Engineer

Paradigm Robotics Corp.; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Unlimited PTO

Relocation support

Equity

Swag and more

Job summary

Paradigm Robotics Corp. in Austin, TX, seeks a Platform Software Engineer to own the robot software stack, from sensor integration to network optimization and platform UX. You’ll work across simulated and real environments, coordinating with hardware and electrical teams to deliver value.

The role emphasizes hands-on development, collaboration, and timely iteration. Candidates should have solid Python/C++ skills, Linux familiarity, and a track record of production-ready projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or engineering.
• 1–3+ years hardware-software development experience.
• Proficiency in Python and/or C/C++.
• Familiarity with frontend technologies (HTML, CSS, JS).
• Understanding of algorithms, data structures, and software design patterns.
• Experience with Linux and common hardware buses (CAN, USB, I2C, Ethernet).
• Experience with open-source libraries for tasks like computer vision.
• Experience with ROS 1/2.
• Projects beyond scripting, including production or release.

Responsibilities

• Understand system requirements and translate them into final solutions.
• Design high-level architecture and workflows with team and users.
• Prototype, validate, and refine end-to-end features (teleoperation, fleet health, SLAM, navigation).
• Develop frontends to demonstrate feature utility and UX concepts.
• Test features in lab and simulated environments for reliability.
• Optimize video streaming for low bandwidth networks.
• Collaborate with hardware teams for integration and issue resolution.
• Write clear design documentation and communicate intent.

Skills

Python

C/C++

Frontend basics (HTML CSS JS)

Linux

Algorithms & data structures

Communication buses & protocols

ROS 1/2 familiarity

Production/release projects

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

Docker

ROS 1/2

CV libraries

Job description

Paradigm Robotics is an Austin, Texas based robotics startup building rugged, scalable, autonomous ground robots for hazardous environments. We serve emergency response, public safety, industrial, and defense. Our mission is to build robots that serve those who serve, leading missions where humans and other robots can't and shouldn't go. Our vision is eliminating the dangerous, dirty, and dull with robotics.

We’ve raised several oversubscribed rounds from top-tier venture firms. We’re working directly with over 200+ of the largest fire departments, law enforcement agencies, industrial teams, and military units across the U.S., including the Army, Navy, and SERDP. Our robots are built with and for firefighters, first responders, industrial crews, and warfighters.

We’re early - less than 2 years old, a tight-knit team of 10 - developing and scaling production of our flagship lines while releasing new platforms. Each one built to serve our nation’s most critical industries, in order to keep the brave safer.

These are foundational roles - joining now means helping shape not just the product, but the company, the culture, and the future of our mission.

Why this will be challenging, meaningful, and fun work:

We are solving problems that matter. Building robots that operate in debris, fire, water, chemicals, and chaos is incredibly hard; and building them to scale is even harder. That is why we focus on engineering rigor, rapid iteration, and deep user feedback. We ship real robots into real fires, real bases, and real operational ranges for real customers; which means everyone on the team takes ownership, talks to users, and builds.

We value curiosity, autonomy, and low-ego collaboration, and we celebrate wins while owning mistakes. At the same time, we know how to have fun. From go-kart races and off-sites in Tulum, to goldfish pranks that turned into a full aquarium, we work hard and enjoy the ride together. This is a place where you can do your best work, learn a ton, build cool things, and make lifelong friends.

Role:

Robotics Software Engineer

Role Type:

Full-Time

Start ASAP

Role Description:

As a Platform Software Engineer, you’ll be working across the full software stack of the robot. You’ll own everything from the sensor integration architecture, to the network optimization, to the operating experience of the platform. You’ll ideate and iterate new features that define how our robot is used; determining what creates that critical value and what doesn’t. You’ll help determine how we develop, deploy, and test software in both simulated and real environments; coordinating with electrical and mechanical members whenever you see fit. You’ll own part of the product, and will have the agency to make it what you think aligns best with the vision. And if something is missing, you won’t need to ask - you’ll take what you need and get it done.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Understand system requirements, negotiating against unnecessary ones and translating the ones that remain into final solutions
• Work with team and users to design hyper-critical features from the ground up - including high-level architecture and workflows
• Prototype, validate, and refine end-to-end features; from teleoperation assists to fleet health monitoring to SLAM and navigation
• Develop barebones frontends to demonstrate feature utility and user experience concepts
• Test features in both lab and simulated environments to ensure reliability and make functional improvements
• Optimize features like video streaming for network communications in low bandwidth environments
• Optimize features for hardware when necessary - be it in compute, data transfer, or memory
• Debug complex issues after testing or operation, including those in processing and threading
• Collaborate with hardware system owners for integration and issue-resolution
• Write essential documentation to communicate design intent and intended use
• Make your code readable and useable, but not necessarily a work of art
• Stay up to date on users, best practices, and emerging tech
• Communicate directly with users as necessary to determine engineering direction for specific features

Who we are looking for:

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree preferably in computer science or an engineering discipline
• 1-3+ years of experience developing with hardware, preferably in industry
• Python, and/or C/C++
• Some familiarity, even if limited, with frontend technologies (HTML, CSS, JS)
• Base understanding of algorithms, data structures, and software design patterns
• Experience with Linux
• Some understanding of communication buses and protocols (CAN, USB, I2C, Ethernet, etc.)
• Some experience utilizing open-source libraries for complex tasks like computer vision
• Some familiarity, even if very limited, of ROS 1/2
• Developed projects beyond the scripting phase, preferably into some form of production/release

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical or Computational Engineering, or some other engineering
• 5+ years software experience with preferably robotic systems
• Worked at a high-growth startup
• Fluent in C/C++, Python, and some frontend development language (JS or some framework, HTML, CSS)
• Previously worked with ROS 1/2
• Experience with CV, SLAM, and other perception methods
• Deep understanding of Linux
• Experience implementing real-time software
• Good knowledge of computer architecture
• Deep understanding of communication buses and protocols (CAN, USB, I2C, Ethernet, etc.)
• Comfortable using lab instruments (Oscilloscopes, logic analyzers)
• Experience in networking and wireless communications
• Experience implementing CI/CD infrastructures
• Experience with Docker
• Familiar with Agile and Test driven development
• Strong entrepreneurial track record being an engineer, founder, or operator at a 0 to 1 startup; able and prepared to support scaling across all aspects of engineering, operations, and business

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Willing to work long hours, especially when necessary for critical milestones
• Hands-on in design, coding, testing, and in-field deployments
• Eager to implement best practices, and fast to communicate needs and desired process changes
• Willing to provide feedback to management and team early and often

Austin, Texas

In-Person (or Hybrid)

Monday - Friday/Saturday (5/6 days a week)

40-60 hours a week

Compensation and Benefits:

$100,000-$150,000+ (Depending on experience)

0.5%-1.5% Equity

Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)

Unlimited PTO

Relocation Support Offered

Swag and more!

At Paradigm Robotics, we believe the best ideas come from working side by side. We’re an office-first team because building breakthrough tech that rolls into burning buildings takes tight feedback loops, fast iteration, and real-time collaboration. That said, we trust our team with autonomy. If you need to work from home once in a while, that’s totally fine. What matters is that we deliver together.

We’re building robots to keep first responders safe and change how emergency response works. To do that, we need a team with a range of perspectives, backgrounds, and lived experiences. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and committed to a culture where everyone feels ownership, respect, and belonging. If our mission resonates with you, we’d love to meet you.