Staff Robot Platform Engineer – Real-Time Systems

persona.ai

Houston (TX)

On-site

USD 140,000 - 200,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Equity

Paid time off

Medical benefits

Job summary

persona.ai in Houston, TX is seeking a Staff Robot Platform Engineer to own the real-time control stack, hardware abstraction layer, and robot API/SDK. You will drive end-to-end platform reliability for the robot software.

The role demands 8+ years in real-time robotics, deep C++, EtherCAT, and experience designing robust platform interfaces. You will mentor engineers and set architectural direction while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

8+ years in systems/embedded/real-time software engineering, with robotics or hard real-time domain.
Deep C++ fluency and real-time determinism.
Hands-on EtherCAT experience or equivalent deterministic networking.
Track record designing hardware abstraction layers and SDKs/APIs.
Bias toward architecturally simple, verifiable systems and critical design reviews.

Responsibilities

Build and Harden real-time control loops converting high-level commands to coordinated joint motion with deterministic timing.
Own hardware abstraction layer end to end, ensuring perception, planning and behaviors remain hardware-agnostic.
Design and evolve the robot API/SDK with long-term stability and clean versioning.
Own the messaging layer with low-latency, deterministic delivery guarantees.
Develop diagnostics and health-monitoring hooks for fault detection and safe degraded operation.
Set technical direction for platform architecture and mentor engineers across the team.