Senior Robotics Software Engineer

EngRadar; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

Clera is seeking a Senior Robotics Software Engineer in San Francisco. You will own production C++ features for sensor data processing, tracking, and autonomy on physical hardware, with hands-on field testing and real-time performance considerations.

Ideal candidates have 4+ years in robotics software, ROS/ROS2 familiarity, and experience with sensor fusion or Kalman filtering. On-site role with visa sponsorship not available and a competitive equity component.

Qualifications

• 4+ years hands-on robotics software experience.
• Production C++ on a physical robotic system with field usage.
• End-to-end ownership of features involving sensor data, tracking, control or autonomy.
• Fluency with real-time systems, including threading, latency and timing analysis.
• Experience with sensor timestamps, synchronization, transforms, sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, or target tracking is valuable.
• Familiarity with ROS or ROS2, cameras, IMUs, encoders, gimbal or turret systems, and robotics HIL testing is a plus.
• Defense, aerospace, or safety-critical software experience and an active security clearance are valued; US Person status is required due to export controls.

Responsibilities

• Own production C++ features across sensor data processing, tracking, control, or autonomy.
• Profile and resolve threading, process structure, latency, and timing issues in the software you own.
• Develop tests alongside features and build or maintain CI/CD and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing.
• Debug issues that occur on physical systems, including failures identified through recorded or replayed sensor data.
• Take part in regular field testing.

Skills

Robotics software

C++ development

Real-time systems

Sensor data processing

Sensor fusion

Kalman filtering

ROS/ROS2

Field testing

Tools

HIL testing

Job description

Clera A well‑funded, early‑stage B2B SaaS startup building self‑improving conversational agents that run product demos 24/7.

Senior Robotics Software Engineer

San Francisco, Full‑time

About The Role

Join a defense technology team building autonomous systems that combine robotics, perception, and directed energy. You will develop and validate software on physical hardware, supporting reliable sensing, tracking, control, and autonomy in field environments.

What You'll Do

• Own production C++ features across sensor data processing, tracking, control, or autonomy.
• Profile and resolve threading, process structure, latency, and timing issues in the software you own.
• Develop tests alongside features and build or maintain CI/CD and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing.
• Debug issues that occur on physical systems, including failures identified through recorded or replayed sensor data.
• Take part in regular field testing.

What We're Looking For

• At least 4 years of hands‑on robotics software engineering experience.
• Production C++ experience on a physical robotic system, with software that reached repeated use in the field or by operators, customers, or fleets.
• End‑to‑end ownership of features involving sensor data, tracking, control, or autonomy.
• Fluency with real‑time systems, including threading, latency, and timing analysis.
• Experience with sensor timestamps, time synchronization, coordinate‑frame transforms, sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, or target tracking is valuable.
• Familiarity with ROS or ROS2, cameras, IMUs, encoders, gimbal or turret systems, and robotics HIL testing is a plus.
• Defense, aerospace, or safety‑critical software experience and an active security clearance are valued. US Person status is required due to export controls.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary is $185,000 to $235,000 annually, plus equity. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

On-site five days per week in San Francisco, California, United States. The role includes field test days.