Robotics Software Engineer

Gander Robotics; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sizable equity grant

Job summary

Gander Robotics is building autonomous maritime systems for search and rescue, defense, and other high-consequence missions. We’re seeking a Robotics Software Engineer to help our autonomous vehicles think, navigate, communicate, and operate in the real world.

This hands-on role spans autonomy, controls, sensing, embedded systems, and operator interfaces, with software written in C++ and Python, integrated with hardware and tested in the field.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent.
• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python.
• Familiarity with Git and modern software development workflows.
• U.S. Citizenship is required for security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and integrate software for autonomous underwater and surface vehicles.
• Build autonomy behaviors, mission planning, state machines, and system-level controllers.
• Integrate sensors, actuators, communications systems, and vehicle hardware.
• Develop operator interfaces and tools for mission planning, deployment, and vehicle control.
• Build and test software on embedded and single-board computers.
• Debug problems across software, electronics, communications, and hardware.
• Participate in vehicle integration, field testing, and iterative development.

Skills

C++

Python

Algorithms

Git

Embedded systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

CMake

Linux

MOOS-IvP

Job description

Gander Robotics is building autonomous maritime systems for search and rescue, defense, and other high-consequence missions. We’re looking for a Robotics Software Engineer to help build the software that makes our autonomous vehicles think, navigate, communicate, and operate in the real world.

This is a hands-on engineering role working across autonomy, controls, sensing, embedded systems, and operator interfaces. You’ll write software in C++ and Python, integrate it with real hardware, and see your work tested in the field.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and integrate software for autonomous underwater and surface vehicles
• Build autonomy behaviors, mission planning, state machines, and system-level controllers
• Integrate sensors, actuators, communications systems, and other vehicle hardware
• Develop operator interfaces and tools for mission planning, deployment, and vehicle control
• Build and test software on embedded and single-board computers
• Debug problems across software, electronics, communications, and physical hardware
• Participate in vehicle integration, field testing, and iterative development

Requirements

• U.S. CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science
• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python
• Strong understanding of software engineering fundamentals, algorithms, data structures, and software architecture
• Familiarity with Git and modern software development workflows
• Strong interest in robotics, autonomous systems, and embedded systems
• Comfortable working directly with sensors, actuators, hardware interfaces, and real-world robotic systems
• Ability to work independently and solve underspecified technical problems
• Effective use of modern AI coding tools while maintaining a strong understanding of the architecture, code, and systems you ship
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Relevant Technical Experience

• Experience in several of the following areas is highly desirable:Modern C++, CMake, Python, Linux, and embedded computing
• MOOS-IvP or other robotics/autonomy middleware
• Behavior-based or hierarchical autonomy
• Guidance, navigation, and control systems
• Mission planning and mission specification
• Sensor fusion and estimation
• GNSS, inertial, acoustic, sonar, or imaging sensors
• Serial, TCP/IP, and other hardware communication protocols
• Device drivers and hardware/software integration
• Map-based interfaces, web applications, desktop GUIs, or command-line tools
• Cross-compiling and deploying software to single-board or embedded computers

Bonus Experience

• Master's degree +
• Marine robotics, AUVs, UUVs, USVs, or other field robotics
• Simulation and sim-to-real development
• RF or acoustic communications
• TAK / ATAK ecosystem
• Existing U.S. security clearance
• Experience conducting field testing of robotic or autonomous systems

Compensation

• Sizable equity grant: early robotics startup levels

What to ExpectGander Robotics is a small, fast-moving team building hardware and software that gets tested in the real world. You’ll have significant ownership over your work and will regularly move between software development, vehicle integration, testing, and field operations.