Senior Software Engineer - Robotics

Thirdwaveautomation; Union City (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Flexible schedule

Meals provided daily

Stock options/equity

401k matching

Job summary

TWA, based in Union City, California, is seeking experienced software (robotics) development engineers to join our team and work on the automation stack for forklifts. You will contribute across motion planning, perception, and control, shaping features and trade-offs for our autonomous robotics product.

This role combines hands-on coding with system design, mentoring, and collaboration in an AI‑first environment using Cursor and Copilot.

Qualifications

• 7+ years hands-on robotics software development with shipped products.
• Bachelor's degree in Robotics, CS or related field; Master's preferred.
• Excellent OOP skills in C++ with Python experience.
• Proficient in C++ and Python for robust software design.
• Experience with AI-assisted development (Cursor, Copilot, LLMs).
• Strong foundation in geometry and sensor processing (LiDAR, Vision).
• Experience with motion planning and vehicle dynamics desirable.

Responsibilities

• Take the Lead on critical features from concept to deployment for forklift automation.
• Tackle uncharted problems in planning, SLAM, and data fusion.
• Improve product maturity and scalability for rapid deployments.
• Influence strategic direction and contribute to roadmap planning.
• Build in an AI-first environment using AI-assisted tools to accelerate SDLC.
• Provide technical leadership and mentor junior engineers.

Skills

C++

Python

Robotics

Motion planning

SLAM

AI-assisted development

OOP design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Robotics/CS

Master's degree preferred

Tools

ROS

SLAM software

Job description

TWA is looking for experienced software (robotics) development engineers to join our team and work on the automation stack for our forklifts. As TWA expands with successful customer deployments, we are adding people that can help drive successful outcomes by improving and enhancing our automation software. As we are still an early stage company, the ideal candidate will be a strong generalist who can work across motion planning, vehicle command, perception and prediction and help to make the right design trade-offs as we identify new features and scope for our product.

You will be part of a core software engineering team working to pioneer new solutions while also driving product maturity to support our rapid growth projections. We empower our team with an AI-first engineering culture. We believe in leveraging LLMs and generative tools to accelerate problem-solving, automate the mundane, and allow our engineers to focus on the high-level architectural and safety challenges unique to autonomous robotics. We believe in a strong coaching and mentoring culture to continuously improve our most valuable asset: our people.

How You Can Make an Impact

• Take the Lead on Critical Features: From initial concept to full-scale deployment, you'll own the design and implementation of core automation enhancements. Your work will directly translate into improved efficiency, safety, and reliability for our customers.
• Solve Uncharted Problems: Leverage your deep expertise in classical robotics, planning, SLAM, and statistical data fusion to tackle the next generation of challenges in infrastructure-free navigation. You will be a hands‑on developer, shaping new features that will set the industry standard.
• Drive Product Maturity and Scalability: As a core contributor, you will enhance vehicle and fleet performance by creating quantifiable improvements. Your insights will be crucial in ensuring our technology is robust enough to support our rapid growth and ambitious deployment goals.
• Influence Our Strategic Direction: As a key member of a small, empowered team, you will not just execute on a roadmap; you will help build it. Your deep understanding of real-world robotic systems will be a guiding force for our strategic planning and future product development.
• Build in an AI first environment: Leverage your experience with AI‑assisted tools (e.g. Cursor, Gemini, GitHub Copilot, etc.) to accelerate the SDLC, from rapid prototyping to automated test generation.
• Lead from the Front: Beyond your individual contributions, you will provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and contribute original, high‑impact ideas that elevate our entire engineering organization.

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands‑on, industry, robotics experience with end‑to‑end software development on products that have shipped.
• Bachelors Degree in Robotics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative discipline; Masters degree preferred.
• Excellent OOP skills in C++.
• Solid software design and development skills, with the ability to write efficient, clean, and reusable code (C++ and Python).
• Track record of bringing important features from ideation to deployment.
• Fluency with AI‑assisted development (e.g., Cursor, Copilot, LLMs) to augment your personal competency in creating, testing and deploying solutions.
• A foundation in computational geometry, sensor processing (LiDAR, Vision), and gracefully handling real‑world noise and uncertainty.
• Experience with motion planning algorithms, vehicle dynamics, and/or control systems and the ability to work features and resolve issues across these disciplines is desirable.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical ideas to engineers and non‑technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• An advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in Computer Science, Robotics or a related quantitative field.
• Experience with perception systems, motion planning, and their integration into planning pipelines.
• A strong understanding of product development processes for mission‑critical systems.
• A proven history of providing technical leadership and mentoring junior engineers.
• Experience with supporting shipping products.
• Experience in safety systems and satisfying certification requirements (e.g., ISO 3691, ISO 13849, CE Marking).

More About Working Here

Our Core Values:

• Safety. We consider safety in everything we do.
• People. We care about our teammates as people.
• Encouragement. We encourage teaching, asking questions, and sharing opinions.
• Transparency. We are transparent and sincere in our actions.

A robust set of benefits and perks:

• Comprehensive benefits. Health, Dental, Vision, and a 401k matching program.
• Flexible working schedule. Be productive when you work best.
• Show & Tell. We love to learn from one another, and see the cool stuff everyone is working on.
• Meals are covered. Lunch is provided every day, and dinner for those evenings that run long.
• Stacks of snacks. Donuts are a main food group, and the snack shelf is always stocked with a wide variety of items.
• Great teammates. One of the best parts of working here.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We value each person's expertise and experiences. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

All qualified applicants able to work in the United States are encouraged to apply. We are unable to sponsor H-1 visas subject to fees required by the ‘Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers’ Presidential Proclamation dated September 21, 2025.

This job is based in Union City at least three days a week and offers no relocation assistance. The pay range for this position is $135,000 - $235,000/yr+ benefits+equity; however, base pay offered will vary depending on job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.