Senior/Staff Robotics Software Engineer

Socket.dev; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Horizon Surgical Systems Inc. seeks a Senior/Staff Robotics Software Engineer to develop and optimize a cutting-edge surgical robotics control platform. You will design, implement, and verify real-time software modules, focusing on deterministic timing, latency reduction, and robust observability.

Collaboration with clinical and engineering teams is essential to deliver safe, high-performance systems. The role combines advanced software architecture with hands-on lab work in a fast-paced startup

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Strong proficiency in modern C++ (>= C++11).
• Knowledge of DDS or alternative IPC like gRPC.
• Experience deploying/testing software in Linux.
• Experience with mission-critical software.

Responsibilities

• Designing, implementing, and maintaining robot controls software with real-time-safe data transfer and observability mechanisms.
• Optimising controls data pipeline across PCs with network and DDS QoS configuration.
• Bridging timing gaps between non-deterministic IPC and deterministic event-loops.
• Collaborating with control algorithm engineers to optimise control loop performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure high performance of software modules.
• Engage in pair programming, code reviews, and design discussions to maintain high coding standards.
• Test software with/without hardware, using virtual fixtures to aid automation.

Skills

C++ (robot controls)

DDS / IPC (gRPC)

Latency optimisation

Linux systems programming

Mission-critical software

Embedded C/C++

Profiling (gprof)

Observability framework

Kinematics / rigid-body dynamics

Motor control

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's/Master’s/Ph.D. in CS/Engineering/Robotics

Tools

Linux

Containerisation

Job description

Open Position – Senior/Staff Robotics Software Engineer

Horizon Surgical Systems Inc.

Horizon Surgical Systems Inc. is revolutionizing the world of surgical ophthalmology by developing a novel, AI driven, and imaging-guided surgical robotic system. Horizon Surgical Systems Inc. aims to expand access to care, provide superior capabilities to the human surgeon, and enhance patient outcomes. Microsurgery in general and Ophthalmology are subfields of surgery for which the surgical outcomes can be significantly improved by robotic systems to allow superior dexterity, precision, accuracy, and visualization beyond the human surgeon’s own capabilities.

We are seeking highly motivated, and intellectually inquisitive individuals looking to make a positive impact on healthcare via the development of robotic technology. The core values of Horizon Surgical Systems Inc. are:

• Commitment to Excellence: We aim to deliver superior patient outcomes and surgeon experiences
• Passion for Creativity and Innovation: We are driven by new ideas and aim to push the boundaries of what's possible
• Teamwork and Camaraderie: We achieve our best when we collaborate and work together
• Welcoming of Critical Opinion: We are enriched by constructive criticism and support the best ideas
• Personal Accountability: We honor our commitments and take responsibility for our actions

Horizon Surgical Systems Inc. offers:

• An opportunity to build autonomous surgical robotic systems driven by image guidance and AI technology for the future of affordable, high-quality healthcare.
• The opportunity to work alongside clinicians, engineers, and global leaders in cutting-edge AI, imaging, and robotics technology.
• Competitive compensation and an excellent company-paid benefits package.

Role Description

In your role as a Robotics Software Engineer at Horizon Surgical Systems, you will contribute to the architecture and design of a cutting‑edge surgical robotics system, implementing and verifying mission‑critical software modules. The ability to enforce deterministic timing, and fail‑safe behaviors, in the controls software is paramount to its clinical efficacy and regulatory approval. You will be responsible for optimising the end‑to‑end latency and throughput of control software by designing a high‑performance controls platform.

Required Qualifications & Abilities:

Educational Background:

• Bachelor's, Master’s or Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

Technical Skills:

• Strong proficiency in modern C++ (at least C++11) is a must.
• Knowledge of DDS, or an alternative asynchronous structured IPC mechanism (e.g., gRPC).
• Proficiency with implementing and evaluating software architecture in the context of latency‑minimisation, determinism, and reliability.

Experience:

• 5+(Senior)/8+(Staff) years of C++ robot controls software development.
• 5+(Senior)/8+(Staff) years deploying and testing software in a Linux environment.
• Prior experience working on mission‑critical software.
• Prior experience with medical device development is a plus.
• Prior experience with embedded C/C++ is useful.

Knowledge:

• Ability to independently implement high‑performance Linux systems software.
• Quantitative profiling and performance optimisation experience (either using a tool like gprof or instrumenting software with your own tooling).
• Experience with an observability framework is helpful, particularly one tailored to robotics telemetry data.
• Ability to analyse latency and jitter of high‑frequency data in a distributed system.
• Experience with software deployment procedures (configuration management, containerised builds, etc.) is preferred.
• Experience with motor control for serial robotic manipulators is preferred.
• Experience with kinematics and rigid‑body dynamics is helpful for collaborating on control algorithms which use the servo drives that you integrate.

Soft Skills:

• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and organisational abilities.
• Good communication skills to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including software engineers, electrical/mechanical engineers, and product managers.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic work environment and adapt to new challenges.

Other Requirements:

• Comfortable working in a lab or workshop environment alongside surgical robotic systems.
• Ability to work on‑site for hands‑on software integration.

Responsibilities:

• Software Implementation:
• Designing, implementing, and maintaining robot controls software that provides real‑time‑safe data transfer and observability mechanisms.
• Optimising the controls data pipeline across PCs with network and DDS QoS configuration.
• Bridging the timing gap between non‑deterministic IPC mechanisms and deterministic event‑loops.
• Collaborating with control algorithm engineers on optimising the performance of their control loops.
• Integration & Collaboration:
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure high performance of software modules.
• Engage in pair programming, code reviews, and design discussions to maintain high coding standards.
• Testing & Reliability:
• Test your software with and without hardware, implementing the appropriate virtual fixtures where it saves time and aids in automation.
• Strive for the simplest possible, most easily testable software design, to make unit‑ and integration‑test coverage seamless.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a high‑tech startup that is poised to revolutionise surgical robotics in ophthalmology.