Software Engineer, Robotic Systems & Infrastructure

ZipRecruiter; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering AI and robotics startup as a Founding Software Engineer. You'll lead the development of core robotics software systems, tackling challenges in real-time performance and multi-robot communication. This unique opportunity offers significant ownership and impact in shaping the future of space industrialization.

Benefits

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible PTO policy

401(k) plan

Substantial Founding Equity

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience architecting complex software systems.
• Expertise in real-time systems and robotics software.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and design of robotics software stack.
• Develop high-fidelity simulation environments for testing.

Skills

C++

Python

Problem Solving

Software Engineering

Education

BS/MS in Computer Science

Tools

ROS2

Isaac Sim

Linux

Job description

Job DescriptionJob Description

Humanity's birthright is to become galactic. GRAM exists to serve this mission.

We are a foundational AI and robotics startup building the machines and intelligence necessary to overcome the physical labor bottleneck preventing large-scale space industrialization.

Our first product is a general-purpose insectoid capable of working in large swarms. Over the coming century, our systems will build the critical infrastructure needed for humanity's expansion across the Milky Way.

The Opportunity:

As a Founding Software Engineer at GRAM, you will be instrumental in bringing our vision to life by leading the design, development, and realization of our core robotics software systems and infrastructure. You will architect the scalable software backbone for our general-purpose insectoids, destined for Earth's toughest environments and eventually off-world construction.

This is a unique ground-floor opportunity to define software architecture strategy from day zero, solve extreme challenges in real-time systems, robust integration, simulation, and distributed coordination for unstructured environments, and build the operational framework of a system designed for galactic scale. You will have unparalleled ownership and impact, tackling problems in ROS2 performance, system reliability, data pipelines, multi-robot communication, and developer tooling necessary for autonomous swarm operations. If you are a world-class systems software architect or engineer driven by tackling seemingly impossible software infrastructure challenges for a civilization-level mission, join us at the very beginning.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of the core robotics software stack (likely ROS2-based), ensuring scalability, reliability, and real-time performance for single and multi-robot systems.
• Develop and manage high-fidelity simulation environments (esp. Isaac Sim) for robust testing, validation, and AI training workflows.
• Build core infrastructure including APIs, inter-process/inter-robot communication protocols, data logging/management systems, and system health monitoring.
• Own the software development lifecycle: implementing best practices (testing, CI/CD, documentation), ensuring code quality, managing dependencies, and establishing deployment strategies for embedded systems.
• Collaborate deeply with Controls, Perception, Manipulation, and Hardware engineers to define interfaces, integrate components seamlessly, and diagnose complex system-level issues.
• Help define and establish software development methodologies, best practices, and engineering culture from the ground up.
• Contribute significantly to overall system architecture decisions and long-term technical strategy alongside other founding members.
• Be prepared to tackle a wide range of software systems challenges and contribute broadly as part of a small, agile pre-seed team.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/MS degree in Computer Science or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience demonstrating exceptional ability.
• Significant professional experience (comparable to 8+ years, though impact matters more than time) architecting and building complex, high-performance software systems.
• Deep expertise in C++ and Python.
• Strong foundation in software engineering principles, data structures, algorithms, operating systems (Linux), and networking concepts.
• Proven experience developing software for large-scale or real-time systems.

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in CS or related field.
• Deep expertise building, maintaining, and scaling complex software systems using ROS/ROS2 for real robotic hardware.
• Experience developing software for real-time embedded systems and optimizing performance.
• Expertise with high-fidelity robotics simulation platforms (Isaac Sim strongly , Gazebo).
• Experience with distributed systems, networking protocols, or multi-robot communication infrastructure.
• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure (GCP/AWS) for simulation or data pipelines.
• Experience setting up and managing CI/CD pipelines and robust testing frameworks specifically for robotics.
• Demonstrated success and adaptability in early-stage startup environments (pre-seed/seed ).
• High tolerance for ambiguity and proven ability to create clarity and drive progress independently.
• Exceptional problem-solving ability and a first-principles thinking approach to software architecture.

We welcome applications from individuals even if their background does not match every listed requirement.

Our Culture:

We are a small, deeply technical team operating with the urgency and focus required to tackle a multi- mission. Expect minimal hierarchy, maximal ownership and impact, intense collaboration, and the unique opportunity to build not just groundbreaking robots, but the culture and foundations of the company itself. We are backed by visionary investors who share our long-term conviction.

Compensation & Benefits:

As a critical founding team member joining at the earliest stage, your compensation package is designed to reflect both the significance of your contribution and the inherent risks and rewards of building from zero.

• Competitive Pre-Seed Salary: We offer a competitive base salary benchmarked for founding engineering roles at venture-backed pre-seed/seed-stage startups in the Los Angeles Area, involving a conscious trade-off with equity.
• Substantial Founding Equity: Recognizing your critical role and early commitment, you will receive a significant stock option grant, providing meaningful ownership and upside potential aligned with GRAM's ambitious long-term vision.
• Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance; flexible PTO policy; 401(k) plan; other standard startup perks.

Galactic Resource Advancement Mechanism Technologies Corporation. C. MMXXV. El Segundo, California, United States of America.