Senior Robotics Software Engineer - Navigation

Motion Recruitment; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company contribution

Unlimited PTO

Paid holidays

Job summary

Motion Recruitment has partnered with a fast-growing robotics company to hire senior robotics engineers focused on autonomous navigation for AMRs in dynamic warehouse settings.

The role involves designing and improving navigation, motion planning, and multi-robot software architectures while collaborating with perception, controls, and hardware teams to deploy robust autonomous systems.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software engineering in robotics (or 3+ years with a Master’s).
• Experience developing navigation software for AMRs.
• Strong Python; C++ experience preferred.
• Understanding of robot kinematics, dynamics, and non-holonomic motion.
• Experience with A*, RRT, PRM, or similar graph-search methods.
• Background in robotics controls and navigation systems.
• Experience with convex optimization and nonlinear programming.
• Experience implementing PID, Pure Pursuit, LQR, or similar.
• Experience deploying navigation software on production robotic fleets.
• Strong debugging and cross-functional collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize navigation and mobility control algorithms for autonomous mobile robots.
• Improve robot speed, efficiency, reliability, and safety in dynamic warehouse environments.
• Develop path planning and motion planning algorithms for real-world robotic applications.
• Build scalable software architecture supporting multi-robot deployments.
• Collaborate with perception, controls, systems, and hardware engineers to integrate navigation capabilities.
• Develop robust trajectory generation, collision avoidance, and recovery behaviors.
• Analyze real-world robot performance and continuously improve navigation reliability.
• Debug complex robotics software and optimize algorithm performance.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to technical leadership across the software organization.
• Participate in architecture discussions, code reviews, and technical planning.

Skills

Python

C++

Navigation software

ROS/ROS2

Kinematics & dynamics

Motion planning

Optimization

PID/LQR/Pure Pursuit

Debugging & architecture

Communication & collaboration

Education

Masters/PhD in Robotics, CS, or ME

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Job description

A fast-growing, venture-backed robotics company is transforming warehouse automation through advanced AI, robotics, and autonomous systems. Their technology is tackling one of the logistics industry's toughest challenges by deploying intelligent robotic platforms into real-world distribution environments. With strong customer adoption and continued investment, they are expanding their engineering organization and looking for experienced robotics engineers who want to solve complex autonomy challenges at scale.

This is an opportunity to join a highly collaborative software team developing next-generation navigation and motion planning systems for autonomous mobile robots operating in dynamic warehouse environments. You'll work alongside robotics, perception, controls, and systems engineers to improve robot intelligence, safety, and operational efficiency while helping shape the future of autonomous logistics.

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience in robotics (or 3+ years with a Master's degree or higher)
• Proven experience developing navigation software for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs)
• Strong proficiency with Python; C++ experience strongly preferred
• Deep understanding of robot kinematics, dynamics, and non-holonomic motion
• Experience developing motion planning algorithms including A*, RRT, PRM, or similar graph-search methods
• Strong background in robotics controls and navigation systems
• Experience with mathematical optimization techniques including convex optimization and nonlinear programming
• Experience implementing control algorithms such as PID, Pure Pursuit, LQR, or similar
• Experience deploying and supporting navigation software on production robotic fleets
• Strong debugging, problem-solving, and software architecture skills
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities

Desired Skills & Experience

• Master's or PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• Experience with trajectory optimization or Model Predictive Control (MPC)
• Background in collision avoidance, obstacle recovery, and autonomous navigation behaviors
• Experience applying optimization techniques to robotic motion planningExposure to machine learning approaches including behavior cloning or diffusion policies
• Experience with ROS/ROS2 and modern robotics software frameworks
• Previous experience mentoring engineers or leading technical initiatives
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum development environments

What You Will Be Doing

• Design, develop, and optimize navigation and mobility control algorithms for autonomous mobile robots
• Improve robot speed, efficiency, reliability, and safety in dynamic warehouse environments
• Develop path planning and motion planning algorithms for real-world robotic applications
• Build scalable software architecture supporting multi-robot deployments
• Collaborate with perception, controls, systems, and hardware engineers to integrate navigation capabilities
• Develop robust trajectory generation, collision avoidance, and recovery behaviors
• Analyze real-world robot performance and continuously improve navigation reliability
• Debug complex robotics software and optimize algorithm performance
• Mentor engineers and contribute to technical leadership across the software organization
• Participate in architecture discussions, code reviews, and technical planning

Tech Breakdown

• 35% Navigation & Motion Planning
• 25% Robotics Controls & Optimization
• 20% Software Architecture & Systems Design
• 20% Cross-Functional Robotics Integration

Daily Responsibilities

• 75% Hands-On Software Development
• 15% Technical Leadership & Mentorship
• 10% Cross-Functional Collaboration

The Offer

You Will Receive The Following Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Annual performance bonus
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company contribution
• Unlimited Paid Time Off
• Paid holidays
• Career growth within a rapidly scaling robotics organization
• Opportunity to build software powering next-generation autonomous robotic systems

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis now and in the future. No sponsorship is available for this position.

Posted By: Shane Tomlinson