Senior Embedded Software Engineering
Planted Solar
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Planted is hiring a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to own the software that powers field robots used in autonomous solar deployments. You will work across the stack—from CANopen devices on the machine bus to ROS2 nodes, control loops, and diagnostics relied on by field crews.
The role emphasizes finishing hard things in a startup setting, with a salary range of $180,000 to $230,000 USD plus stock and benefits.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, or similar.
- Experience shipping embedded or robotics software on real machines.
- Strong modern C++ on Linux, and Python for tooling, test, and analysis.
- Production experience with ROS2.
- Experience with real-time Linux (PREEMPT_RT).
- Hands-on experience with CANopen in real systems.
- Track record debugging robot control systems end to end.
- Hands-on aptitude with a scope, a CAN analyzer, and a schematic.
- Desire to work in a startup environment, including field work.
- Bonus: ros2_control, CiA 402, RTK GNSS, functional safety, or heavy equipment experience.
Responsibilities
- Own the software that makes field robots move, sense, and stay safe from CANopen to ROS2 nodes.
- Trace robot misbehavior from logs to root cause and fix it to prevent recurrence.
- Work closely with mechanical, electrical, and field engineers from varied backgrounds.
- Develop and tune robot control software across actuators and coordination tasks.
- Help design safety systems, fault detection, and interlocks for large machines.
- Debug hard failures across hardware, firmware, middleware, and application layers.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Join the team changing how power gets built.
If you’re motivated by hard engineering and infrastructure development problems with visible, lasting impact, you belong at Planted .
The world needs new solar built about five times faster than the industry has ever managed. Planted is building the system that closes that gap: software, robots, and hardware that put more power in the ground, faster. Every project we deploy brings abundant, affordable energy closer to reality.
Our team spent years building physical infrastructure and watched time and complexity pile up between first concept and commercial operation. So we rebuilt the process as one system, with design connected directly to robots in the field. Nobody has done what we do before. The work is tangible: at the end of a deployment, you stand in a field and see the power plant your work made real.
Autonomous machinery runs alongside crews every day. Anyone can stop any operation, and that call outranks the schedule.
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Great work here compounds. Build the tool, write the doc, and give the next person a head start; wins get celebrated by name, with credit shared widely.
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Commitment is the product
"I'll find out by Thursday" beats a confident guess, but once you name Thursday, Thursday is real. Problems get named while they're small, and changes get heard early, with a plan.
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Convention isn't evidence
"Industry standard" is not a reason; most conventions came from constraints that no longer exist. Physics and the law are the limits; everything else is a choice, and we get to make it.
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One owner, final call
Every decision has one owner, and you get handed problems, not tasks. Bring your data, argue it in the room, then let the owner call it and move on.
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Machines do the toil
Office and field work on the same logic: if AI, software, or robots can do the task better or cheaper, a person shouldn't be doing it.
The world needs 3 TW of new solar capacity every year. The legacy approach of developing and building infrastructure is mathematically incapable of catching up.
Planted is the autonomous power deployment company. We transform power plants from bespoke construction projects into manufactured products. By integrating planning software, high-density arrays, energy storage, and field robots, we deliver more power where it's needed most.
The physics are solved; what remains is relentless execution. Led by repeat founders and an engineering core from SpaceX and Tesla, we are backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Piva Capital, Google, Gigascale Capital, Khosla Ventures, and RA Capital Management.
We’re scaling fast and looking for operators and engineers who want to own real pieces of the system. You don't need a traditional energy background; we care whether you can finish hard things. Come build with us.
As a core part of the R+D team you will own the software that makes our field robots move, sense, and stay safe. Work the full stack, from CANopen devices on the machine bus up through ROS2 nodes, control loops, and the diagnostics our crews rely on. When a robot misbehaves in the dirt, you trace it from a log or a CAN frame to root cause, then fix it so it never happens again. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with a cross-functional team of mechanical, electrical, and field engineers from varied backgrounds.
The salary range for this full-time position is $180,000 to $230,000 USD plus stock and benefits. Pay within the range is based on candidate experience, job-specific skills, education, and work location. The target experience for the position is 5+ years. This role is based in Oakland, CA, with regular travel to job sites.
Solve fully autonomous solar array installation on rough, sloped terrain, while maintaining millimeter positioning accuracy
Design, build, and own ROS2 software for our latest, hydraulic-powered, multi-ton robot
Build computer vision and video-based verification that proves every install is correctly located in 3D space across thousands of installs and hundreds of meters
Define and implement a comprehensive telemetry system using AI-based tools for remote debug and triage
Develop and tune robot control software, from individual actuators to coordination across the full machine
Integrate and configure precision CANopen for drives, valves, encoders, I/O, and sensors
Contribute to the design of our safety systems, and build the fault detection, safe-state handling, and interlocks that keep field teams safe alongside these huge machines
Debug hard failures across hardware, firmware, middleware, and application code, and drive them to root cause
Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, or similar
Experience shipping embedded or robotics software on real machines
Strong modern C++ on Linux, and solid Python for tooling, test, and analysis
Production experience with ROS2
Experience with real-time Linux (PREEMPT_RT)
Hands-on experience with CANopen in real systems
Track record debugging robot control systems end to end - from a symptom in the field to a root cause in code, config, or hardware
Hands-on aptitude - comfortable with a scope, a CAN analyzer, and a schematic
Desire to work in a startup environment, including time in the field
Bonus: ros2_control, CiA 402 motion control, RTK GNSS, functional safety, or heavy equipment experience.
Many people only apply for jobs if they believe they can perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and will consider equivalent combinations of knowledge, skills, education, and experience. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.
Additionally, we believe compensation should reflect the value people bring and give them a real stake in what we're building. Our total compensation package includes a base salary, meaningful equity through stock options, and benefits including company holidays, paid time off (PTO), and in-office lunches. Individual pay may vary within the posted range and is determined by a number of factors including relevant experience, skills, and location.
We are using sunlight, software, and robots to power the world. It is historic work, and it is hard work. If you want a paved, predictable path, this isn't for you. If you'd rather invent the path, this is the best job you'll ever have.
Call it out. We put big robots in the field alongside our crews and partners. Anyone can stop any operation at any time. The same trust runs everywhere: a bug in the code, a flaw in the plan, a risk in the dirt, a design that no longer makes sense. Say it while it's small and cheap to fix, directly to the person who can fix it. Sometimes that person is you.
Commit and complete. We work problems, not tasks. A confident guess is not a commitment; "I'll find out by Thursday" is. If a date slips, say it early and bring the new plan. Every decision has one owner: bring data, argue hard, push back in the room, then the owner calls it and we lock arms. Execution compounds.
Convention isn't evidence. “Industry standard” is a red flag. Most conventions were answers to constraints that no longer exist. We respect physics and obey the law. Everything else is a choice, and we get to make it.
Let machines do the work. We are system builders: AI and robots do repetitive work in the field and in the office. Every task a machine takes over is a person out of harm's way or off the critical path. Solve a problem once, then build the tool, write the spec, and commit the doc so nobody has to solve it again. Doing it by hand once is fine. Twice means we need a tool.
Planted is an equal opportunity employer committed to growing inclusively, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, medical condition, age, or veteran status. However you identify, or whatever background you bring with you, please apply. We look forward to hearing from you.
Compensation Range: $180K - $230K
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Jason Hoving
Staff Mechanical Engineer
"The only thing I’d leave aerospace for was something just as exciting, focused on an even bigger problem. Planted was that company."
Principal Software Engineer
“I quickly got the sense that everyone around me was the right person for their job. Two years later, I still feel that way.”
Mechatronics Engineer
“Very few teams get to tackle robotics at the scale of construction. That’s what makes the work here so interesting.”
Robot Software Engineer
Planted has been named one of TIME Magazine's Top GreenTech Companies of 2026. We're grateful for the recognition and focused on the work: projects in the ground, machines in the field, and a growing list of developers and IPPs building faster on sites that used to be out of reach.
Six months ago, Planted had 2 MW in the ground. We've now deployed 44 MW across four U.S. states.Field execution is repeatable, smooth, and precise. Results get better with each deployment. Planted is bankable, transactable, and scalable, and we're helping our developer, IPP, and EPC partners unlock projects on tighter sites and shorter timelines.I cannot wait to share more about these great projects. In the meantime, here are some pics.More states, many more megawatts ahead.If you want a closer look at the platform or the projects, DM Tim Whalen or Jonathan Oakley .
We put cameras under one of our arrays to monitor site conditions. Didn't expect this much company.No heavy grading = native land stays largely intact = healthier soil, better vegetation, and habitat that doesn't disappear during construction.
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