Robotics Software Engineer II (Embedded & Motion Control)

Rocket Lab USA; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite fitness centers

Employee stock purchase program

Discounted merch store

Snacks and beverages

Paid vacation and sick time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Pasadena, CA, is seeking a hands-on Software Engineer II – Robotics to develop software for robotic platforms and integration with hardware subsystems. You will collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and production teams to turn concepts into reliable systems, supporting full development cycles from design through deployment.

Ideal candidates bring robotics-focused software experience, strong C++/Python skills, and familiarity with Linux, real-time concepts, and ROS/ROS2.

Qualifications

• Hands-on software engineer with robotics or hardware-integrated software experience.
• Strong software fundamentals and ability to develop reliable software in a fast-paced hardware environment.
• Demonstrated ability to design, simulate, bring-up, test, and produce software solutions across cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain software for robotic systems, embedded interfaces, control applications, test systems, and operator-facing tools.
• Implement software for robotic platforms, motion-control systems, sensing systems, machine interfaces, production tools, and hardware test environments.
• Support software development from concept through implementation, simulation, hardware bring-up, integration, test, deployment, troubleshooting, and production support.
• Partner with mechanical, electrical, controls, systems, manufacturing, test, and quality teams to define requirements, interfaces, verification approaches, and release criteria.
• Integrate software with motors, actuators, encoders, sensors, motion controllers, embedded systems, machine vision, industrial networks, and robotic equipment.
• Troubleshoot issues across software, controls, electrical hardware, sensors, actuators, networks, robotic hardware, and production equipment.
• Support software quality through code reviews, version control, CI/CD, automated testing, documentation, release practices, and production support practices.
• Communicate software status, technical risks, trade studies, test results, and implementation plans to stakeholders.

Skills

C++

Python

ROS/ROS 2

Embedded systems

Real-time software

Linux environments

Git-based workflows

CI/CD

Machine vision

Hardware bring-up

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, CS, EE, Robotics, Mechatronics, or related field

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Linux

Job description

Rocket Lab in Pasadena, CA, is seeking a hands-on Software Engineer II – Robotics to develop software for robotic platforms and integration with hardware subsystems. You will collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and production teams to turn concepts into reliable systems, supporting full development cycles from design through deployment.

Ideal candidates bring robotics-focused software experience, strong C++/Python skills, and familiarity with Linux, real-time concepts, and ROS/ROS2.