Systems Engineer - Robotics

Applied Intuition; Washington; On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition, Inc. is hiring a Systems Engineer to define system requirements, architectures, and deploy software on autonomous vehicles and defense systems.

You will work across field and office environments, collaborating with software, autonomy, perception, data science, and field operators to ensure robust, safe deployments. Ideal candidates have advanced robotics or systems engineering credentials or 5+ years in autonomy, strong Linux, Python, and C++, and experience with PX4, ROS, and

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in robotics or autonomous systems.
• Proficient in Linux, Python, and C++ for robotics deployments.
• Experience with autonomous vehicle architectures and field testing.

Responsibilities

• Define system requirements from user needs for autonomous platforms.
• Design architectures and reference architectures for autonomy and mission systems.
• Develop, deploy, and validate software on autonomous vehicles and defense systems.
• Lead field deployments and testing in dynamic environments.
• Collaborate with software, perception, data science, and field ops teams.

Skills

Linux

Python

C++

Robotic systems

Inter-vehicle communications

Field testing

System-of-systems architectures

Education

MS or PhD in Robotic Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Optimization, or equivalent OR 5 years of relevant experience

Tools

PX4

ROS

ROS 2

DDS

Job description

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company's solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positions.

About the role

As a Systems Engineer , you will play a critical role in defining system requirements, designing architectures, and integrating Applied Intuition's technology onto autonomous vehicles and defense systems. This role combines systems engineering, robotics, software deployment, architecture, integration, and real-world testing.

You will work across both office and field-based environments, with significant time spent deploying, testing, and validating software on autonomous systems in dynamic, operationally relevant settings. You will collaborate closely with software engineers, autonomy engineers, perception teams, data scientists, and field operators to ensure systems are robust, reliable, and ready for deployment.

At Applied, you will:

• Define system requirements from user needs on operational concepts
• Define system and system-of-systems architectures and align with open standards such as PYRAMID, FCADE, etc.
• Design and build out reference architectures for multiple systems of interest including autonomy systems, mission systems, and weapon systems
• Lead the development of system engineering models and artifacts to capture key design decisions
• Develop, deploy, and validate software systems on autonomous vehicles, focusing on robotics, sensors, and vehicle autopilots
• Participate in hands-on fieldwork, deploying software on vehicles and ensuring proper functionality in dynamic, real-world environments
• Work with the Perception and Autonomy teams to deploy and optimize perception pipelines (Vision, Radar, Fusion) and vehicle autonomy SW, ensuring robust and safe vehicle operation
• Address inter-vehicle communication, ensuring seamless data exchange between vehicles for collaborative autonomous operations
• Leverage simulation environments to test vehicle systems, validating software behavior in various scenarios before field deployment
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, data scientists, and field operators, to ensure the successful deployment of systems. Document processes and provide updates on system status and improvements

We're looking for someone who has:

• MS or PhD in Robotic Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Optimization, or equivalent OR 5 years of relevant experience designing multi-agent autonomy
• Strong proficiency in Linux and command-line tools
• Strong proficiency in Python and/or C++
• Hands-on experience with robotic systems, sensors (such as RADAR, cameras, radar), and vehicle autopilots (e.g., PX4, ROS) something out of those
• Knowledge of communication protocols for inter-vehicle communications (e.g., DDS, ROS 2, or similar)
• Experience in integrating third-party software and APIs
• Experience with standards such as PYRAMID, FACE, ARP 4754A, DO-178C, or similar.
• Systems architecturing and requirements writing experience
• Ability to work in field environments, troubleshooting, testing, and deploying systems in challenging conditions

Travel Requirements:

Must be willing to travel as projects requires; average travel varies, but can be up to once a month for up to 1 week (~50%)

Nice to have:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document processes and communicate technical concepts to cross-disciplinary teams
• Experience working on autonomy, robotics, aerospace, defence, mission systems, or safety-critical systems
• Experience working directly with customers, operators, or end users in field-based environments
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, evolving environment, including under challenging conditions in remo