Staff Robotics Engineer

Fruition Group US; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Fruition Group US is partnering with a fast-growing robotics company to hire a Staff Robotics Software Engineer. This senior IC role focuses on hands-on architecture, perception, planning and controls, keeping you deeply technical while raising the bar for peers.

You will own architecture decisions across the robotics software stack, mentor engineers, and collaborate with hardware, product, and safety teams to move from prototype to fleet.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience in robotics or safety-critical embedded systems.
• Staff/Principal-level leadership with architecture ownership across multiple teams.
• Fluency in two or more areas: perception, planning/controls, embedded/real-time software, or safety architecture.
• Strong C++ and ROS/ROS2 experience; track record shipping autonomous systems.
• Excellent technical communication for cross-team alignment.

Responsibilities

• Own architecture decisions across the robotics software stack—perception, planning/controls, and embedded systems.
• Solve complex, ambiguous technical problems from system tradeoffs to bring-up and debugging.
• Set technical direction and review designs across teams without headcount ownership.
• Mentor engineers through code reviews, design reviews, and pairing.
• Collaborate with hardware, product, and safety to move platform from prototype to fleet.
• Contribute senior input on the platform's roadmap and technical direction.

Skills

C++

ROS/ROS2

Real-time software

Technical leadership

Robotics architecture

Tools

ROS2

Job description

I am partnering with a fast-growing robotics company building autonomous systems for the physical world to find a Staff Robotics Software Engineer. This is a senior individual-contributor seat for someone who wants to stay hands-on with the hardest technical problems - architecture, perception, planning and controls - while raising the bar for the engineers around them, rather than moving into people management.

What You'll Do:

• Own and drive architecture decisions across the robotics software stack - perception, planning/controls, or the embedded systems tying them together
• Solve the hardest, most ambiguous technical problems on the team, from system-level tradeoffs to gnarly bring-up and debug issues
• Set technical direction and review designs across multiple teams without owning a headcount
• Mentor and level up other engineers through code review, design review, and pairing
• Partner closely with hardware, product, and safety teams to get the platform from prototype to fleet
• Weigh in on the technical roadmap when architecture decisions need a senior voice at the leadership table

What Our Client Is Looking For:

• 8+ years of software engineering experience, including deep, hands-on work in robotics, autonomous vehicles, or safety-critical embedded systems
• Demonstrated Staff/Principal-level technical leadership - architecture ownership spanning multiple teams, not just a single project
• Deep fluency in at least two of: perception/sensor fusion, motion planning and controls, embedded/real-time software, or safety-critical systems architecture
• Strong C++ and experience with ROS/ROS2 or an equivalent real-time robotics framework
• A track record of shipping autonomous or semi-autonomous systems into real-world operation, not just simulation
• Excellent technical communication - comfortable driving alignment across teams without formal authority

Nice to Have:

• Experience with ISO 26262, SOTIF, or similar functional-safety frameworks
• Background in autonomous vehicles, field robotics, or industrial/warehouse robotics specifically
• A track record of staying an IC by choice at Staff/Principal level rather than moving into management

What Our Client Offers:

• Competitive base salary plus meaningful equity in a fast-growing company
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Flexible PTO and a hybrid work schedule
• Real influence over the platform's technical direction, without the overhead of managing a team