Robotics Software Engineer - Construction

HITT Contracting Inc.; Falls Church (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HITT Contracting Inc. is seeking a Robotics Software Engineer to design, integrate, and deploy autonomous robotics solutions for field construction environments.

You will own components across the development lifecycle, from prototypes to field-ready systems, collaborating with the Robotics Team to support projects and pilots on active job sites. The ideal candidate has hands-on software expertise across C++, Python, and Linux, plus experience with robotics toolchains, version control, CI/CD,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in robotics, computer science, software or related engineering field.
• Master's degree or 2+ years of hands-on field robotics experience.
• Proficiency in C++, Python, and Linux-based robotics development.
• Experience with modern software practices: Git, automated testing, CI/CD, and containerization.
• Experience integrating APIs/SDKs and open-source software components.
• Fluency with AI-assisted and agentic software development tools.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, and test software for complex field robotics applications.
• Support maturation of the robotics software stack across the development lifecycle.
• Integrate robot platforms, sensors, networks, and operator interfaces.
• Develop field-ready autonomy: localization, mapping, navigation, and planning.
• Configure and troubleshoot networks on robots, sensors, and cloud services.
• Collaborate with software and hardware engineers, vendors, and field teams.

Skills

C++

Python

Linux

Git

CI/CD

Containerization

Education

B.S. in robotics/CS/SE/EE/ME

M.S. preferred or 2+ years field robotics

Tools

Docker

APIs/SDKs

Open-source stacks

Job description

Every day, our team members do amazing things in pursuit of our shared purpose to build trust with our clients, partners, subcontractors, and teammates. No matter your background, education, or career path, if you share our vision to create extraordinary experiences, you belong at HITT .

Robotics Software Engineer - Construction

The Robotics Software Engineer is responsible for developing and deploying autonomous robotics solutions that must operate in some of the most challenging real-world environments. This role will own work across the development lifecycle: creating proof-of-concept prototypes, maturing promising concepts into feature-complete systems, and hardening those systems for reliable deployment on jobsites.

This team member reports to the Robotics Software Lead and is part of HITT's Robotics Team, which leads research and development, pilot programs, and full-time field deployments. The Robotics Team's mission is to support our project teams, transform our industry, and bring robots to every jobsite.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer who has a deep system-level understanding of what it takes for robots to operate in unstructured environments, handle dynamic obstacles, safely work around people, and work reliably with limited networking and power infrastructure. Although they may specialize in autonomy, perception, or manipulation, they are comfortable contributing across the robotics stack and addressing issues that span software, sensors, compute, networking, and mechanical hardware. They can move quickly when building an early proof-of-concept while applying the engineering discipline needed to mature it into a field-ready solution.

We encourage strong candidates excited by this role to apply even if they do not match every technical qualification listed.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Robotics Software & Systems Integration

• Design, develop, integrate, and test software for complex field robotics applications.
• Support the development and maturation of the HITT robotics software stack.
• Integrate robot platforms, sensors, actuators, embedded computers, networks, and operator interfaces into cohesive systems.
• Develop field-ready autonomy capabilities, including localization, mapping, navigation, state estimation, and mission planning.
• Integrate perception pipelines using cameras, LiDAR, depth sensors, inertial sensors, and other sensing modalities.
• Develop manipulation applications involving motion planning, controls, end effectors, calibration, and task execution.
• Use simulation, synthetic data, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and repeatable test environments to accelerate development and reduce field risk.
• Configure and troubleshoot network connectivity on robots, sensors, operator interfaces, and cloud services using wired and wireless networks.
• Serve as a strong technical contributor across the stack while bringing depth in one or more of these areas; expertise in every discipline is not expected.

Collaboration & Partnerships

• Collaborate with software engineers, hardware engineers, field testing engineers, vendors, partners, end users, and other stakeholders.
• Integrate and extend third-party technologies using APIs, SDKs, middleware, and other software interfaces.
• Contribute to co-development efforts with vendors and technology partners to establish technical requirements, resolve integration challenges, and evaluate solutions.

Field Testing & Deployment

• Plan and execute structured testing in the lab, at test sites, and on active construction projects.
• Deploy alongside field teams, observe real workflows, collect data, diagnose issues, and convert field feedback into engineering priorities.
• Design for difficult real-world conditions, including dust, changing lighting, uneven terrain, vibration, intermittent connectivity, dynamic obstacles, and frequent environmental change.
• Support deployed systems through remote and on-site troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Document architectures, interfaces, test results, deployment procedures, and lessons learned so solutions can be supported and scaled.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) in robotics, computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
• Master's degree or 2+ years of experience in developing, integrating, and testing field robotics systems.
• Proficiency in C++, Python, and Linux-based robotics development.
• Proficiency in modern software-engineering practices, including version control (e.g., Git), automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization (e.g., Docker).
• Experience working with APIs/SDKs, open-source software packages, and technical standards to bring together disparate technology components into a reliable solution.
• Fluency with AI-assisted and agentic software development (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor).
• Strong system-level troubleshooting skills across software, hardware, networking, and field