Staff or Principal Robotics Controls Engineer

Capstan Medical; Santa Cruz (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a Staff or Principal Robotics Controls Engineer to join their team in developing a groundbreaking robotic platform for cardiovascular procedures. In this pivotal role, you will translate clinical needs into practical control algorithms, mentor junior engineers, and lead the development of complex product features. Your expertise in Python and C++ programming, along with your strong analytical and problem-solving skills, will be crucial in driving the success of this project. This position offers a unique opportunity to work on safety-critical systems in a collaborative and dynamic environment, where your contributions will directly impact patient care and clinical outcomes.

Qualifications

• 9+ years of experience for Staff role; 15+ years for Principal role in relevant fields.
• Experience with medical device development processes and safety critical systems.

Responsibilities

• Translate clinical needs into design requirements and develop control algorithms.
• Mentor junior engineers and lead complex product features from concept to launch.

Skills

Python programming

C++ programming

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Debugging skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

MS or PhD in robotics-related field

Tools

Control algorithms

Sensor fusion

Path planning

Job description

Staff or Principal Robotics Controls Engineer

Title: Staff or Principal Robotics Controls Engineer

Type: Hybrid, onsite 3 or more days/week

Summary:

We are building an exciting novel robotic platform where we are enabling the clinician to precisely control the transcatheter deployment of a cardiovascular valve through an elegant and simple-to-use robotic interface. Come be a part of envisioning and developing the algorithms and software that enable this incredible technology.

Responsibilities:

• Translate clinical and user needs into design requirements and address those requirements with practical control algorithms and software designs, implementing designs into testable prototypes, efficiently capturing design learnings for quick iteration loops, and bringing these features to product launch.
• Develop algorithms that take high level user commands in user/image space and translate them using device models and sensor inputs to joint level commands that precisely deliver the requested motion.
• Be a technical leader on complex product features from concept to product launch; managing requirements, design, software implementation, testing, and product release process (increased level of project scope for Principal).
• On-site participation in building and testing prototypes, and support in their pre-clinical lab use.
• Align individual work to best support company goals, identifying high risk items and playing an active role in developing solutions.
• Mentor junior engineers and peers (increased level of mentorship for Principal), help build a strong and positive engineering culture within the team.
• Document and communicate your work through design reviews and as appropriate released documents as part of the product development process.
• Identify gaps and pitch in as needed to ensure that the team meets their goals and objectives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong debug skills and experience efficiently integrating new hardware, software, and algorithms for safety critical systems. Preferred knowledge of safety standards and regulations in robotics.
• Python programming skills (C++ also preferred), capable of writing production quality code following software development best practices (unit testing, code review, etc.).
• Experience with a mix of joint level control loops, hysteresis compensation, kinematics, null space resolution, sensor fusion, and path planning.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a team environment.
• Understanding of how early design decisions cascade into outcomes later. Ability to make smart decisions regarding clinical workflow, regulations, and risk management to save time and effort later.

Requirements:

• MS or PhD in robotics-related field, or equivalent work experience.
• For Staff: expecting 9+ years of relevant industry plus academia experience (medical device or similar safety critical system experience preferred).
• For Principal: expecting 15+ years of relevant industry plus academia experience (medical device or similar safety critical system experience preferred).
• Comfortable working with high levels of ambiguity and an ability to convert that into tangible outcomes.
• Experience with designing, manufacturing transfer, and shipping software and algorithms for medical device capital equipment or similar safety critical systems.
• Experience with medical device development process, design control, risk management, design verification, and regulatory processes, or experience with similar safety critical system development processes.
• Ability to work in a hybrid work environment, working onsite in Santa Cruz on average 3 or more days a week.