Senior Robotics Engineer

Lightspeed; Northbrook (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation including salary and equity

Comprehensive benefits package

Hands-on experience with physical robots

Job summary

LightSpeed Build Technologies is seeking a Senior Robotics Engineer to design and implement robotic systems for construction automation. This role involves hands-on work with industrial robots and requires strong proficiency in ROS2 and motion planning.

The ideal candidate will bring over 5 years of robotics engineering experience and contribute to cutting-edge AI-driven solutions in the housing industry.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on robotics engineering experience.
• Proficiency in ROS2 and real-time communication patterns.
• Experience with motion planning and robotics simulators.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize ROS2 control architectures.
• Validate control algorithms in high-fidelity simulations.
• Integrate sensor systems for robot localization.

Skills

ROS2 architecture

robotics engineering

motion planning

Python

C++

sensor integration

real-time control

Education

MS or PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

MuJoCo

IsaacSIM

Gazebo

FastAPI

Job description

About LightSpeed

LightSpeed Build Technologies is revolutionizing the construction industry through AI-powered robotics. Our flagship systems—BRUTE for automated wall panel manufacturing and DEX for on-site collaborative construction—are addressing the global housing crisis by delivering unprecedented speed, precision, and affordability in homebuilding.

Position Overview

As a Senior Robotics Engineer, you will design, develop, and deploy the core robotic control systems powering LightSpeed’s construction automation platforms. You will work hands‑on with industrial robots, developing motion planning algorithms, real‑time control software, and sensor integration systems that enable our BRUTE and DEX platforms to achieve sub‑millimeter precision in demanding construction environments. This role demands deep robotics expertise, strong software skills, and the ability to bridge the gap between simulation and real‑world deployment.

What you’ll work on:

Robotics Software Development

• Develop and optimize ROS2-based control architectures for multi‑robot coordination in manufacturing cells
• Implement motion planning and trajectory optimization using MoveIt2 and custom planners for complex assembly tasks
• Design real‑time pose synchronization systems for coordinated multi‑robot operations
• Build and maintain robot driver interfaces for Hyundai industrial robots and collaborative robot arms
• Develop collision avoidance and safety monitoring systems for human‑robot collaborative environments

Simulation & Validation

• Build high‑fidelity simulation environments using MuJoCo, IsaacSIM, and Gazebo for system validation before deployment
• Develop digital twin frameworks linking physical robot cells to simulation models for predictive analysis
• Create automated testing pipelines for robotics software using hardware‑in‑the‑loop simulation
• Validate control algorithms in simulation before deploying to production robot cells

Sensor Integration & Perception

• Integrate and calibrate sensor systems including LIDAR, depth cameras, force/torque sensors, and encoders
• Develop sensor fusion algorithms for precise robot localization and workpiece tracking
• Implement real‑time quality monitoring using sensor feedback during automated assembly operations
• Design calibration procedures and drift compensation for production environments

System Integration & Deployment

• Deploy robotic control systems to production cells and troubleshoot field issues
• Integrate robot control with LightSpeed Overwatch monitoring platform via Python/FastAPI
• Optimize robot cycle times, path planning, and operational efficiency in production
• Support scaling from current cell deployments to multi‑site operations

Required Qualifications:

Core Robotics Expertise

• 5+ years of hands‑on robotics engineering with industrial or collaborative robot systems
• Deep proficiency in ROS2 architecture, node lifecycle management, and real‑time communication patterns
• Hands‑on experience with MoveIt2 or MoveIt Pro for motion planning and manipulation
• Strong understanding of robot kinematics, dynamics, and control theory
• Experience with physics‑based robotics simulators: MuJoCo, IsaacSIM, or Gazebo

Software Development

• Strong programming in Python and C++ for real‑time robotics applications
• Experience with real‑time operating systems and deterministic control loops
• Proficiency with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and modern development workflows
• Understanding of industrial networking protocols (EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP)

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS or PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Experience with industrial platforms: Hyundai, FANUC, ABB, KUKA, or Universal Robots
• Background in construction technology, automated manufacturing, or prefabrication
• Experience with real‑time Linux (PREEMPT_RT) and low‑latency control systems
• Contributions to open‑source robotics projects (ROS2, MoveIt, or related)
• Published research or patents in robotics, motion planning, or control systems

Why Join LightSpeed:

• Solve hard robotics problems: multi‑robot coordination, sub‑millimeter precision, real‑world deployment at scale
• Direct impact: your control systems power robots that build homes and address the housing crisis
• Cutting‑edge stack: ROS2, MuJoCo, IsaacSIM, MoveIt2, and custom industrial automation
• Hands‑on culture: work directly with physical robots in our manufacturing facility
• Competitive compensation including salary, equity participation, and comprehensive benefits

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