Staff Platform Software Enigneer

Vaco; Logan (UT); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Staff Platform Software Engineer in Columbus, OH to lead the architecture of a robotics software platform for control systems, AI, safety-critical functions, and hardware integration.

You will drive the long-term technical vision, ensure scalability through FDA-regulated requirements, and mentor a diverse engineering team across robotics, AI, quality, and regulatory domains.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of software engineering experience in complex software platforms or products.
• Experience in regulated or safety-critical industries (Medical Devices, Aerospace, Automotive, Industrial Robotics, Defense).
• Hands-on with formal software lifecycle standards (IEC 62304, DO-178C, ISO 26262).
• Led architecture decisions for large-scale platforms or frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Own architecture and roadmap for robotics software platform including hardware interfaces and safety-critical subsystems.
• Document platform-level architectural decisions for real-time performance and deployment strategies.
• Lead platform development in compliance with IEC 62304 and related standards.
• Collaborate with Quality and Regulatory to maintain design history files and traceability.
• Mentor platform, systems, and firmware engineers and represent architecture in reviews and audits.
• Partner with Robotics, Controls, and AI teams to align platform capabilities with product requirements.

Skills

C++ expert

Real-time/embedded

Software architecture

Regulated industry

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/SE

Tools

IEC 62304 compliance

DO-178C

ISO 26262

Job description

Staff Platform Software Engineer

Location: Columbus, OH (Onsite)

About Our Client

Our client is harnessing the power of AI and robotics to bring hope and healing to healthcare, revolutionizing patient care and transforming complex challenges into opportunities for innovation and progress. Their robotic technology is improving sonographers' quality of life while enhancing the consistency and quality of ultrasound scans.

The team is distinguished by its expertise in creativity, engineering excellence, and the delivery of intelligent robotic systems designed to work alongside people in real-world healthcare environments. Every day presents new challenges, and the team thrives on developing practical, innovative solutions that make robots intuitive, reliable, and exceptional collaborators. They approach their mission with passion, curiosity, and a commitment to improving lives through technology.

Position Summary

Our client is seeking a Staff Platform Software Engineer to lead the architecture and evolution of its robotics software platform. This platform serves as the foundation for control systems, AI capabilities, safety-critical functions, and hardware integration across the product ecosystem.

This individual will establish the long-term technical vision for the platform, ensuring it scales from product development through commercial deployment while supporting FDA-regulated medical device requirements. The role requires close collaboration with robotics, AI, quality, and regulatory teams, as well as technical leadership and mentorship across the engineering organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the architecture and technical roadmap for the robotics software platform, including hardware interfaces, control algorithm integration, and safety-critical subsystems.
• Define and document platform-level architectural decisions related to real-time performance, fault handling, safety interlocks, software versioning, and deployment strategies.
• Lead platform development efforts in compliance with IEC 62304 software lifecycle requirements, including Class B and Class C software components.
• Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to maintain design history files, software traceability, and technical documentation.
• Establish and enforce software engineering best practices, including code reviews, testing methodologies, automated validation, and documentation standards.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to platform, systems, and firmware engineers.
• Represent the platform architecture during design reviews, hazard analyses, risk assessments (ISO 14971), regulatory audits, and compliance activities.
• Collaborate with Robotics, Controls, and AI Engineering teams to ensure platform capabilities effectively support current and future product requirements.
• Drive decisions that balance performance, safety, reliability, maintainability, and scalability.
• Influence organizational technical strategy and contribute to the successful commercialization of advanced robotic healthcare solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with a proven history of delivering complex software platforms or products from concept through commercial launch.
• Experience developing software within a regulated or safety-critical industry, such as:
  • Medical Devices
  • Aerospace
  • Automotive Functional Safety
  • Industrial Robotics
  • Defense Systems
• Hands-on experience operating under formal software lifecycle standards such as IEC 62304, DO-178C, ISO 26262, or equivalent frameworks.
• Demonstrated ownership of software architecture and technical decision-making for large-scale platforms or frameworks.
• Experience implementing test-driven development practices and establishing quality standards across engineering teams.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence technical direction and mentor engineers at multiple levels.

Technical Skills

• Expert-level proficiency in C++ and real-time or embedded software development.
• Deep understanding of software architecture principles, distributed systems, and hardware-software integration.
• Experience designing APIs, frameworks, and abstractions used by multiple engineering teams.
• Strong knowledge of fault-tolerant, safety-critical, and high-reliability software systems.
• Proven ability to create architectural documentation suitable for audits, regulatory reviews, and long-term maintainability.
• Experience with software testing frameworks, continuous integration, and system validation methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a focus on delivering practical, scalable solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience contributing to regulatory documentation, risk management artifacts, design history files, or equivalent engineering documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and standard engineering collaboration tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting FDA 510(k) or PMA submissions.
• Proficiency with Python development.
• Experience working with robotic systems, embedded computing platforms, sensors, actuators, and hardware control interfaces.
• Familiarity with Embedded Linux and real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Experience with ROS2 (Robot Operating System).
• Startup or early-stage company experience.
• Previous success building or scaling a platform engineering function.
• Experience mentoring senior engineers and technical leads.
• Knowledge of cloud-connected robotic systems, remote diagnostics, or fleet management architectures.

Why Join Our Client?

• Work on cutting-edge robotics and AI technologies that directly improve patient care.
• Play a foundational role in shaping the software architecture of a groundbreaking medical robotics platform.
• Collaborate with a highly talented multidisciplinary team of robotics, AI, software, and healthcare professionals.
• Influence products from development through commercialization and market adoption.
• Join a mission-driven organization dedicated to transforming healthcare through innovation.

Our client offers a competitive compensation package, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future of healthcare technology from their Columbus, Ohio headquarters.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring's discussions with its Client, Highspring's understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.