Robotics Systems Engineer

FieldAI; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

FieldAI in Irvine, CA is seeking a senior robotics software engineer to build and maintain field-ready software for embodied AI systems. You will integrate onboard compute, sensors, and software across robot platforms, and collaborate with autonomy, hardware, and deployment teams to ship reliable robotics solutions.

You have 5+ years in robotics or embedded software, strong C++/Python, Linux expertise, ROS/ROS 2 familiarity, and a track record debugging across software-hardware boundaries.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical field (CS/Robotics/EE).
• 5+ years of experience in robotics, systems software, embedded systems, or related engineering.
• Strong software engineering skills in C++ and Python.
• Strong understanding of Linux systems, networking, processes, devices, and system configuration.
• Hands-on experience developing, integrating, or debugging robotic or hardware-software systems.
• Familiarity with ROS/ROS 2 or similar robotics middleware.
• Ability to debug complex problems across software and hardware boundaries and drive them to resolution.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain the systems software that powers FieldAI's robotic platforms.
• Bring up and integrate onboard compute, sensors, networking, and supporting hardware across different robot platforms.
• Develop tooling and services for robot provisioning, configuration, deployment, monitoring, diagnostics, and recovery.
• Integrate hardware interfaces, device drivers, vendor SDKs, and system services into a reliable robot runtime.
• Debug complex system-level issues spanning software, operating systems, networking, compute, sensors, and hardware.
• Improve robot reliability through automated testing, observability, health monitoring, and fault recovery.
• Collaborate with robotics, autonomy, hardware, infrastructure, and deployment teams to bring new platforms from development to field deployment.

Skills

C++

Python

Embedded systems

Linux

Debugging across software/hardware

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science/Robotics/EE

Tools

ROS/ROS 2

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

FieldAI’s Irvine team is where embodied AI meets real robots, real sensors, and real field deployments. Based in the heart of Southern California’s robotics ecosystem, we build risk‑aware, reliable, field‑ready AI systems that solve the hardest problems in robotics and unlock the full potential of embodied intelligence. If you want your work to ship, get tested on hardware, and improve through real deployments, Irvine is the place. We go beyond typical data‑driven approaches or pure transformer‑only architectures, combining rigorous engineering with learning systems proven in globally deployed solutions that deliver results today and get better every time our robots run in the field.

FieldAI’s Irvine team is where embodied AI meets real robots, real sensors, and real field deployments. Based in the heart of Southern California’s robotics ecosystem, we build risk‑aware, reliable, field‑ready AI systems that solve the hardest problems in robotics and unlock the full potential of embodied intelligence. If you want your work to ship, get tested on hardware, and improve through real deployments, Irvine is the place. We go beyond typical data‑driven approaches or pure transformer‑only architectures, combining rigorous engineering with learning systems proven in globally deployed solutions that deliver results today and get better every time our robots run in the field.

What You Will Get To Do

• Build and maintain the systems software that powers Field AI's robotic platforms.
• Bring up and integrate onboard compute, sensors, networking, and supporting hardware across different robot platforms.
• Develop tooling and services for robot provisioning, configuration, deployment, monitoring, diagnostics, and recovery.
• Integrate hardware interfaces, device drivers, vendor SDKs, and system services into a reliable robot runtime.
• Debug complex system‑level issues spanning software, operating systems, networking, compute, sensors, and hardware.
• Improve robot reliability through automated testing, observability, health monitoring, and fault recovery.
• Collaborate with robotics, autonomy, hardware, infrastructure, and deployment teams to bring new platforms from development to field deployment.

What You Have

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in robotics, systems software, embedded systems, or a related engineering role.
• Strong software engineering skills in C++ and/or Python.
• Strong understanding of Linux systems, networking, processes, devices, and system configuration.
• Hands‑on experience developing, integrating, or debugging robotic, embedded, or other hardware‑software systems.
• Familiarity with ROS/ROS 2 or similar robotics middleware.
• Ability to debug complex problems across software and hardware boundaries and drive them through resolution.

What Will Set You Apart

• Experience building and operating production robotic systems deployed outside controlled lab environments.
• Deep Linux systems experience, including systemd, udev, device configuration, networking, and performance debugging.
• Experience with embedded or edge compute platforms.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or other containerized runtime environments.
• Experience with automated provisioning, configuration management, OTA software updates, or robot fleet management.
• Experience with system‑level test automation, hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, observability, telemetry, and diagnostics.

Our salary range is generous and we consider each individual’s background and experience when determining final compensation. Base pay may vary based on role scope, job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, and the Irvine, California market.

Why Join FieldAI in Irvine?

In Irvine, you will work where the robots are. Our local team builds and tests systems on real hardware with real sensors, then ships them to operate in unstructured, previously unknown environments around the world. We are solving one of robotics’ hardest challenges: reliable deployment outside the lab. Our Field Foundational Models™ raise the bar for perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, with an emphasis on explainability and safety for real-world use.

You will collaborate with a world‑class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. We bring deep experience from organizations such as DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, along with a track record of field deployments and strong performance in DARPA challenge segments.

Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution

We are looking for builders who want their work to leave the whiteboard and show up on robots. If you enjoy tackling tough, uncharted questions and working across disciplines, you will find your people here. Our teams span AI, software, robotics engineering, product, field deployment, and technical communication, all focused on shipping systems that perform in the real world.

Our headquarters is in Irvine, and we partner closely with teams there as well as colleagues across the US and around the world. Join us in Southern California and help define what dependable, field‑ready autonomy looks like.

We value diverse perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We evaluate candidates and employees based on merit, qualifications, and performance, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.