Robotics Software Engineer II: Embedded Motion Control

Rocket Lab Corp.; Pasadena, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 108,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Pasadena, CA is seeking a hands-on Software Engineer II - Robotics to develop software for robotic platforms, motion-control, sensing, and production tools. You will collaborate with mechanical, electrical, controls, and QA teams to deliver reliable hardware-integrated software in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires strong C++/Python skills, ROS/ROS 2 experience, and proven ability to integrate software with motors, encoders, sensors, and embedded systems.

Qualifications

• Degree in Software Engineering, CS, EE, Robotics, Mechatronics, Aerospace, or equivalent.
• 2–5 years of professional software engineering experience including robotics or embedded systems.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and/or Python.
• Experience with ROS or ROS 2, including real-time variants or applications.
• Hands-on experience integrating software with motors, encoders, sensors, embedded systems.
• Solid software engineering fundamentals: architecture, Git workflows, CI/CD, testing, documentation, production support.
• Ability to define requirements and deliver software solutions in a cross-functional hardware development environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain software for robotic systems, embedded interfaces, control applications, test systems, and operator-facing tools.
• Integrate software with motors, actuators, encoders, sensors, motion controllers, embedded systems, machine vision, networks.
• 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 systems, 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 technical and cross-functional stakeholders.

Skills

C++

Python

Embedded systems

Robotics experience

Hardware integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering/CS/EE/Robotics

Tools

ROS/ROS 2

Git

CI/CD

Job description

Rocket Lab in Pasadena, CA is seeking a hands-on Software Engineer II - Robotics to develop software for robotic platforms, motion-control, sensing, and production tools. You will collaborate with mechanical, electrical, controls, and QA teams to deliver reliable hardware-integrated software in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires strong C++/Python skills, ROS/ROS 2 experience, and proven ability to integrate software with motors, encoders, sensors, and embedded systems.