Senior Robotics Engineer

Mbodi AI; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Mbodi AI, an AI robotics startup, is seeking a Senior Robotics Engineer to turn high-level task intents into precise robot behavior on real hardware. You will work across motion execution, controls, hardware interfaces, and production deployment with a hands-on, startup-driven mindset.

The role requires 3+ years building robotics software, strong Python and C++ skills, and experience with ROS2 and industrial robot integration.

Qualifications

• 3+ years building and deploying robotics software on physical systems.
• Strong understanding of feedback control, system dynamics, stability, and real-time robotic systems.
• Experience with PID, feedforward, state-space control, LQR, or MPC is a plus.
• Hands-on experience integrating and commissioning robotic systems in real-world environments.

Responsibilities

• Build motion and control systems for robotic platforms, including trajectory execution and real-time corrections.
• Diagnose and improve tracking error, latency, and motion quality in production environments.
• Integrate our platform with industrial robots, sensors, safety I/O, and hardware.
• Lead system integration and on-site commissioning in customer facilities.
• Perform full-stack debugging across controls, robotics software, networking, and hardware.

Skills

Python

C++

Robotics systems

Controls fundamentals

ROS2

Education

Advanced degree in Robotics/Controls/ME/EE/CS

Tools

ABB

Fanuc

KUKA

UR

Job description

About Mbodi
Join Mbodi AI (YC X25), an AI robotics startup founded by two former Googlers committed to pushing the boundaries of physical intelligence. Mbodi is an embodied AI platform that makes robots learn and operate like humans. Anyone can teach robots new skills by talking to them — and execute those skills reliably in production within minutes.

About Mbodi
Join Mbodi AI (YC X25), an AI robotics startup founded by two former Googlers committed to pushing the boundaries of physical intelligence. Mbodi is an embodied AI platform that makes robots learn and operate like humans. Anyone can teach robots new skills by talking to them — and execute those skills reliably in production within minutes. We are pioneering the next wave of robotics, where AI agents meet physical-world applications. Backed by top investors and working with global industrial partners such as ABB, we’re redefining what’s possible in robotics and automation.

Role Overview
We’re looking for a Senior Robotics Engineer to join our core team. You will build the systems that turn high-level task intent into reliable, precise robot behavior on real hardware. This spans motion execution, feedback control, OEM robot interfaces, hardware integration, calibration, and production deployment.

This is a hands-on role for someone comfortable working across robotics software, controls, hardware, and real-world system debugging.

What You’ll Do

• Motion & Control: Build and improve robot motion and feedback systems, including trajectory execution, feedback control, latency compensation, and real-time corrections.
• System Performance: Diagnose and improve tracking error, oscillation, latency, stability, motion quality, and robustness using strong first-principles intuition.
• OEM Robot Integration: Build motion execution around industrial robot controllers, accounting for joint limits, calibration, timing, motion constraints, and fault handling.
• Lead System Integration: Integrate our platform with industrial robots, sensors, network interfaces, safety I/O, and other hardware.
• Deploy and Commission: Own robot bring-up, validation, commissioning, and on-site issue resolution in production environments.
• Full-Stack Debugging: Debug failures across controls, robotics software, networking, calibration, and hardware.

What We’re Looking For

• Robotics Systems Expertise: 3+ years building and deploying robotics software on physical systems, with strong Python and C++ skills.
• Controls Fundamentals: Strong understanding of feedback control, system dynamics, stability, trajectory tracking, and real-time robotic systems. Experience with techniques such as PID, feedforward, state-space control, LQR, or MPC is a plus.
• Strong Systems Intuition: Ability to reason about robot behavior across software, controls, timing, calibration, and hardware.
• Hardware & Commissioning Experience: Hands-on experience integrating, tuning, and commissioning robotic systems in real-world environments.
• Startup DNA: High agency, strong bias toward action, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, execution-focused environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience programming or interfacing with industrial robots such as ABB, Fanuc, KUKA, or UR.
• Strong experience building production-grade robotics systems in ROS2.
• Advanced degree in Robotics, Controls, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.