Senior Robotics Software Engineer (Autonomy)

VTI Aerospace; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan or 401(k)

Paid time off and holidays

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

VTI Aerospace is seeking a Senior Robotics Software Engineer (Autonomy) to develop onboard autonomy for the FlightStack system. You will work on edge compute environments, integrating perception models with sensor data and control logic for reliable aviation robotics.

You will collaborate with ML and autonomy engineers to deploy models, test in real-world flight environments, and optimize systems for constrained hardware while shaping modular robotics architectures.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in robotics or autonomous systems development.
• Strong programming in C++ and Python for embedded platforms.
• Experience with ROS2 and robotics middleware in real-time contexts.
• Proficient in perception, localization, or path planning systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop onboard autonomy software for perception, localization, mapping, and path planning.
• Integrate ML perception models into real-time robotics pipelines.
• Fuse data from EO cameras, LiDAR, GPS, INS, and IMU for robust autonomy.
• Optimize software for edge/embedded compute environments and constrained hardware.
• Collaborate with ML and autonomy engineers to deploy models into production systems.
• Test, debug, and improve robotics systems in real-world flight environments.

Skills

C++

Python

ROS2

Real-time systems

Sensor data processing

Localization & Mapping

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Robotics Software Engineer (Autonomy)

About VTI Aerospace

VTI Aerospace builds AI-powered perception and pilot assist technologies to unlock the future of aviation. With offices in Bozeman, MT and Seattle, WA, we are a team of engineers and technologists from Boeing, Airbus, Aurora, and beyond. We are passionate about pushing the boundaries of autonomy and aviation safety. Our company is dedicated to advancing the field of aviation with cutting-edge solutions

The Role

As a Senior Robotics Software Engineer (Autonomy), you will develop and deploy onboard autonomy capabilities that power our FlightStack system. Working on edge compute systems in non-network-connected environments, you will design and implement robotic functions that enable reliable perception, localization, path planning, and contextual understanding in real-world conditions.You will work closely with machine learning engineers and autonomy engineers to integrate perception models, sensor data, and control logic into robust robotics systems that operate reliably on embedded platforms.This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building real-world robotic systems that operate under real-world constraints, and wants to have a direct impact on the performance and reliability of autonomous aviation systems.

What You'll Do

• Design and develop robotics software for onboard autonomy using ROS2, Python, and C++
• Build and maintain systems supporting perception, localization, mapping, and path planning
• Integrate machine learning perception models into real-time robotics pipelines
• Develop software that fuses data from EO cameras, LiDAR, GPS, INS, and IMU sensors
• Design and implement contextual reasoning and autonomy behaviors for real-world operations
• Optimize robotics systems for edge compute environments and constrained hardware platforms
• Implement and improve algorithms for localization, state estimation, and environmental awareness
• Collaborate with ML engineers to integrate perception capabilities into production autonomy systems
• Work with autonomy engineers to design robust and modular robotics system architecture
• Test, debug, and improve robotic systems in real-world flight environments

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of experience developing robotics or autonomous systems software
• Strong programming experience in C++ and Python
• Experience developing robotics systems using ROS2 or similar robotics middleware
• Experience building real-time or near real-time robotic software systems
• Experience integrating and processing sensor data such as cameras, LiDAR, GPS, and IMU
• Experience designing or implementing perception, localization, or path planning systems
• Strong debugging and system integration skills for complex robotics systems
• Ability to work closely with machine learning and autonomy engineers to deploy models into real-world systems
• Experience optimizing software for edge or embedded compute environments

Bonus Points

• Experience with SLAM, mapping, or state estimation systems
• Experience with sensor fusion across multiple sensing modalities
• Experience working with autonomous vehicles, UAVs, or robotics platforms
• Experience deploying machine learning inference on embedded or edge compute systems
• Experience optimizing robotics systems for constrained hardware environments
• Experience with real-world robotics testing and deployment

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Opportunity to work on meaningful problems in aviation and deliver products to industry at a rapid pace
• Small team with significant impact on company direction
• Collaborative and innovative environment
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Opportunities for growth and leadership

Location

Work arrangement: On-site

Primary location: Seattle or Bozeman

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: DOEBenefits may include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plan or 401(k)
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development opportunities

Equal Opportunity Statement

VTI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diverse perspectives and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply