Software Engineer/ Senior Software Engineer, Robotics - NREC

Carnegie Mellon University; False Pass (AK); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) seeks a robotics software engineer to design, implement, and deploy advanced robotic systems for industrial, commercial, and defense-oriented projects.

You will work with world-class robotics professionals, bridging research and production by delivering robust software, integrating perception, planning, and control with hardware systems, and collaborating across disciplines to deliver real-world impact.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in CS, Engineering, Math or related field.
• 1–5 years in software, robotics, or systems integration (levels vary).
• Proficient in C++, strong system-level thinking.
• Experience with Python for prototyping.
• Linux development experience and solid communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on real-time software development for robotics stack.
• Profile, benchmark, and optimize system performance.

Skills

C++

Python

Linux

ROS2/MoveIt

Education

B.S. in Computer Science/Engineering/Mathematics

Tools

Gazebo

MuJoCo

Isaac Sim

Job description

At the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), it is our engineers and technicians who drive the breakthroughs that define our success. The members of our technical staff collaborates closely with leadership and multidisciplinary teams to design, build, and deploy sophisticated robotic solutions that address complex challenges in industrial, commercial and government sectors. Each project benefits from their expertise, creativity, and hands‑on problem‑solving, fueling progress and innovation across the organization.

As part of our dedicated team, you will work alongside world‑class robotics professionals committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and redefining ideas into solutions for real‑world applications. We foster a culture of professionalism, respect, and collaboration, offering a flexible and encouraging environment where you can sharpen your skills, lead impactful projects, and take control of your career development.

We are seeking a motivated roboticist to help develop and deploy the next generation of mobile manipulation systems for real‑world applications. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced and innovative setting. In this role, you will bridge research and industry by transforming advanced robotic concepts into robust, production‑ready technologies, ensuring our team delivers exceptional and ground‑breaking results. The work emphasizes hands‑on development, integration, and deployment of systems that combine perception, planning, and control to address impactful challenges in areas including logistics, manufacturing, and automated science. If you are passionate about building real robots that make a measurable difference in the world, we would love to hear from you.

This position will require work on a variety of projects, including projects that involve military/defense applications and/or are funded by military/defense sponsors.

Are you interested in joining our versatile team at NREC where y

Your primary responsibilities are to:

• Hands‑on real‑time SW development: Design, write, and maintain clean, high‑performance, and robust code to advance and mature our software stack in robotic applications.
• Systematic Performance Maturation: Drive the iterative software lifecycle by conducting systematic analysis, profiling, and benchmarking to identify bottlenecks and optimize system performance.
• Simulation & Testbed Generation: Leverage advanced simulation tools to generate high‑fidelity synthetic data and architect complex testbed scenarios for software validation.
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Thrive in a multidisciplinary environment, working closely with hardware engineers, systems engineers, and domain experts to translate complex physical requirements into scalable software solutions.
• System Integration & Testing: Actively participate in hands‑on integration work, ensuring seamless interoperability between software components and hardware systems.
• Iterative Design & Code Quality: Participate in rigorous code reviews, documentation, and continuous integration (CI/CD) practices to maintain high engineering standards across the existing codebase.

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or equivalent experience.
• 1 - 5 years of professional or research experience in software development, systems integration, or robotics. ( Leveling and title will be determined based on depth of experience: 1-3 years for Software Engineer / 3-5+ years for Senior ).
• Demonstrated understanding and basic use of software engineering concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Proficient C++ skills.
• Solid technical communication skills, demonstrated success working as part of a cross‑functional team.
• Experience with Python for quick prototyping of applications.
• Linux development experience.
• Effective organizational, planning, and analytical skills
• Ability to effectively interact with a multifaceted population of internal and external partners
• Ability to work on multiple projects at the same time

We especially want to hear from you if you have experience or qualifications in any of the following areas:

• Experience with ROS2/Move‑it middleware and development frameworks.
• Experience with robot manipulators kinematic analysis and trajectory optimizations to maximize operational throughput and efficiency.
• Advance use of simulation environments such as Gazebo, Isaac Sim, or MuJoCo for robotic applications development and testing.
• Experience with robust fleet communication protocols, multi‑robot behavior, motion planning and coordination to design efficient and robust dispatching systems.
• Real‑world deployment, systems engineering.
• Embedded systems or real time application development.
• Proficiency leveraging AI tools to develop robust software solutions.

Other Requirements:

• Successful pre‑employment background check