Senior Robotics Software Engineer

Clera Labs, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

Clera Labs, Inc. is seeking an experienced robotics software engineer to build and debug production C++ software on autonomous hardware. You will work across sensor data, tracking, control, and autonomy on a defense-oriented platform.

The role emphasizes ownership of features, real-time performance, and robust testing, including hardware-in-the-loop validation. On-site SF location with field test days is expected.

Qualifications

• At least 4 years of hands-on robotics software engineering experience.
• Production C++ for physical robotic systems used in field operations.
• Experience owning hardware-facing features with sensor data, tracking, control, or autonomy.
• Fluency with real-time systems, including threading and latency analysis.
• Experience with CI/CD or hardware-in-the-loop testing for robotics software.

Responsibilities

• Own production C++ features end to end across sensor data, tracking, control, or autonomy.
• Profile and improve software you own, including threading, process structure, latency, and timing.
• Write tests alongside features and maintain CI/CD and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Debug issues that arise on physical hardware, including during field testing.

Skills

C++ production

Real-time systems

Sensor data processing

CI/CD testing

Field robotics

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Cameras

IMUs

Encoders

Job description

About the Role

Join a defense technology team developing autonomous robotic systems. You will build and debug production C++ software on physical hardware, working across sensor data, tracking, control, and autonomy.

What You'll Do

• Own production C++ features end to end across sensor data, tracking, control, or autonomy.

• Profile and improve software you own, including threading, process structure, latency, and timing.

• Write tests alongside features and maintain CI/CD and hardware-in-the-loop testing.

• Debug issues that arise on physical hardware, including during field testing.

What We're Looking For

• At least 4 years of hands-on robotics software engineering experience.

• Experience writing production C++ that ran on a physical robotic system and was used repeatedly in the field or in operation.

• Experience owning hardware-facing features and working with sensor data, tracking, control, or autonomy.

• Fluency with real-time systems, including threading, latency, and timing analysis.

• Experience building or maintaining CI/CD or hardware-in-the-loop testing for robotics software.

• Familiarity with sensor synchronization, coordinate-frame transforms, sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, or target tracking is helpful.

• ROS or ROS2, cameras, IMUs, encoders, gimbal or turret systems, and defense, aerospace, or safety-critical software experience are useful.

• Must meet US Person requirements for export control purposes.

Compensation & Benefits

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

Location

On-site in San Francisco, California, five days per week, with field test days included.