Senior Robotics Software Engineer

Entangled Future; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Monarch Quantum in San Diego, CA seeks a Senior Robotics Software Engineer to own critical motion planning and controls software across the stack, from kinematics to hardware interfaces. This full-time role calls for hands-on leadership in a fast-paced robotics startup environment.

You will collaborate with hardware and process engineers, implement validation suites, and contribute to a robust software stack with a focus on safety, reliability, and real‑world robotics deployment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years building robotics software, with a track record of owning motion planning or controls systems end to end.
• Strong background in modern C++ (17/20/23), with Python experience.
• Hands-on experience with robotics, motion control, or controls software driving real hardware.

Responsibilities

• Build motion and trajectory planning for robotic tasks, including planning for multiple robots.
• Develop kinematics, reachability, and motion planning; validate plans for collision‑free execution.
• Contribute to the driver layer connecting to robot hardware and real‑time control interfaces.
• Support learning‑based methods and simulation, including sim‑to‑real training.
• Refine the robotics software stack (behaviors, motion planning, world modeling, device control).
• Write unit tests and validation suites to ensure reliability and safety.
• Collaborate with hardware/process engineers to validate planning on real hardware.
• Participate in code reviews and promote strong coding practices.
• Maintain clear documentation for planning algorithms and interfaces.

Skills

C++ (17/20/23)

Python

Robotics software

Motion planning

Kinematics

Simulation

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Robotics

Job description

Senior Robotics Software Engineer at Monarch Quantum, San Diego, California, United States. A senior-level full time position in the Engineering team, listed under software engineering.

Join our fast-paced and passionate team as a Senior Robotics Software Engineer. As we scale, you will play a key role in building our foundation from the ground up. This is a dynamic, hands-on role for a self-starter who thrives in a fluid startup environment. You'll have the opportunity to work on cutting edge technologies, work closely with leadership, and help develop and implement engineering practices that support our mission and growth. Your key responsibilities are as follows:

• Build motion and trajectory planning for pick and place tasks, ranging from patterned and adaptive, sensor-driven motions to resource‑aware sequencing that coordinates multiple robots working the same part.
• Develop kinematics, reachability, and motion planning, including inverse kinematics and trajectory planning for robotic manipulators, and validate plans so motion is collision‑free and executable.
• Contribute to the driver layer that connects to robot hardware, streaming motion commands to the robot controller in real time and abstracting sensors behind clean, reliable interfaces.
• Support advancement of the stack with learning‑based methods and simulation, including reinforcement learning, learned planners, and sim‑to‑real training, alongside classical approaches.
• Help implement and refine the robotics software stack (behaviors, motion planning, world modeling, and device control) and its integration with fleet management and higher‑level systems.
• Write unit tests and validation suites to ensure motion planning and control software is reliable, safe, and robust.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including hardware and process engineers, to make sure planning and control decisions hold up on real hardware.
• Participate in code reviews, provide constructive feedback, and hold yourself and the team to strong coding and safety practices.
• Maintain clear and well‑structured documentation for planning algorithms, calibration procedures, and system interfaces.

Requirements

• This position requires access to export‑controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a U.S. person as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).
• A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years building robotics software, with a track record of owning motion planning or controls systems end to end.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring engineers and influencing technical direction beyond your own immediate work.
• Experience working in a startup or fast‑paced technology company environment is a plus.
• Strong background in modern C++ (17/20/23), with Python experience.
• Hands‑on experience with robotics, motion control, or controls software. You've built software that drives physical hardware, not just simulated it.
• Deep experience with kinematics, reachability, and motion planning, including inverse kinematics and trajectory planning for robotic manipulators.
• Worked with physical robots using a world model, with experience planning against that world model.
• Calibration experience to address sim‑to‑real gaps.