Senior Controls Engineer – Robotics & Automation

Knightscope; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

Knightscope is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to advance motion planning and control for autonomous robotic platforms. You will design, implement, and test algorithms enabling safe navigation and robust vehicle control across planning, mid-level, and hardware layers.

The role emphasizes hands-on testing, startup-style rapid prototyping, and collaboration with perception, localization, and systems teams to deliver robust autonomy in real-world environments.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS in Controls, Robotics, Optimization, Path Planning, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (BS with strong experience may be considered).
• 5+ years of full-time robotics/autonomous systems experience.
• Experience developing control systems for robotic or autonomous platforms.
• Strong understanding of control theory, dynamic systems, and vehicle/robot dynamics.
• Experience with PID, MPC, LQR, and trajectory tracking controllers.
• Experience with Kalman Filters / Extended Kalman Filters.
• Programming in C++ and/or Python, MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience with robotics hardware, sensors, and embedded systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain motion planning algorithms including trajectory generation and collision avoidance.
• Design and implement control algorithms for robotic and vehicle systems (PID, MPC, LQR, trajectory tracking).
• Implement and maintain state estimation methods (Kalman Filters).
• Develop and tune mid-level and low-level vehicle control systems (steering, speed, trajectory tracking).
• Integrate planning and control modules with perception, localization, and systems teams.
• Support robot integration, testing, and field validation.
• Develop internal tools for testing, validation, and performance analysis.

Skills

C++

Python

Matlab/Simulink

Control theory

Robotics

Education

PhD or MS in Controls/Robotics/Engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

CAN/Ethernet

Git

Job description

About Knightscope

Knightscope (NASDAQ: KSCP) is a security technology company building the nation's first Autonomous Security Force — autonomous machines, AI-driven software, and elite security professionals operating as one integrated managed service. The Company is on a mission to make the United States of America the safest country in the world. One Team. One Force.

Location: Knightscope HQ, Sunnyvale, CA (This position is not remote)

Job Summary

Knightscope is seeking a motivated Senior Controls Engineer to support the development of motion planning and control systems for autonomous robotic platforms. This role involves designing, implementing, and testing algorithms that enable robots to safely and reliably navigate real-world environments.

The ideal candidate is excited to work in a fast-paced startup environment and enjoys both algorithm development and hands‑on testing on robotic systems. This position will collaborate closely with perception, localization, and systems teams to develop robust navigation and vehicle control solutions.

About The Role

In this role, you will contribute to the development of planning and control algorithms for Knightscope’s autonomous robots. Engineers will work across multiple layers of the autonomy stack including path planning, trajectory generation, vehicle control, and system integration.

This role requires flexibility to contribute across planning, mid-level controls, and vehicle control systems, as well as participation in robot integration and real-world testing.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain robot motion planning algorithms including trajectory generation, collision avoidance, and path planning
• Design and implement control algorithms for robotic and vehicle systems (PID control, Model Predictive Control (MPC), Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR), trajectory tracking controllers)
• Implement and maintain state estimation methods such as Kalman Filters / Extended Kalman Filters
• Develop and tune mid-level and low-level vehicle control systems including steering, speed, and trajectory tracking
• Work closely with perception, localization, and systems teams to integrate planning and control modules
• Support development of navigation behaviors for autonomous robots operating in real environments
• Analyze system logs and telemetry data to evaluate and improve performance
• Participate in robot integration, debugging, and field testing
• Develop internal tools for testing, validation, and performance analysis
• Contribute to rapid prototyping and iterative development in a startup environment

Required Qualifications

• PHD. or M.S. in Controls, Robotics, Optimization, Path Planning, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field. B.S. with strong industry experience may be considered
• 5+ years of full-time industry experience in robotics, autonomous systems, automotive, aerospace, or related engineering fields
• Experience developing control systems for robotic or autonomous platforms
• Strong understanding of control theory, dynamic systems, and vehicle/robot dynamics
• Experience implementing control algorithms such as PID, Model Predictive Control (MPC), Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR), and trajectory tracking controllers
• Experience with state estimation techniques (Kalman Filters / Extended Kalman Filters)
• Experience with robot motion planning including trajectory generation, collision avoidance, and path planning
• Programming experience in C++ and/or Python, Matlab/Simulink
• Experience with communication protocols and data interfaces for robotic or vehicle systems (e.g., CAN, Ethernet) and associated logging or instrumentation tools
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and collaborative software development workflows
• Experience working with robot hardware, sensors, and embedded systems
• Ability to work in a hands-on robotics development and testing environment

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $180,000 to $210,000 (DOE)
• Equity: Stock options
• Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off
• Location Requirement: Full-time, on-site at Sunnyvale HQ