Systems Engineer, Robotics Hardware

FieldAI; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Field AI is building risk-aware, field-ready AI systems for robotics. The Systems Engineer on the Hardware Team will bring new robot platforms into our fleet, integrating control stacks, autonomy, and payloads while ensuring safe operation in real-world environments.

You will collaborate across Autonomy/RL, Manipulation, Mechanical, and Electrical teams, enabling seamless platform bring-up, safety qualification, and field deployment across diverse terrains and platforms.

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Experience 3–9 years in robotics hardware/controls integration.
• Hands-on with middleware (ROS/ROS2) and computing languages (Python, C++).
• Robust generalist robotics software background across controls, navigation, and systems integration.

Responsibilities

• Platform integration & controls across ROS/ROS2 and payloads.
• Safety qualification and field deployment readiness.
• Collaborate with Autonomy/RL, Manipulation, Mechanical, and Electrical teams.
• Perform SIL/HIL testing to ensure safe, reliable operation.
• Identify, test, and integrate diverse robot platforms.
• Support multi-platform morphologies (legged, humanoid, wheeled).

Skills

Robotics software generalist

Platform integration

Sim-to-real experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Systems thinking

Education

B.S./M.S./Ph.D. in Robotics or related field

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Python

C++

CAN bus / EtherCAT

SIL/HIL testing

Job description

Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk-aware, reliable, and field-ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-based architectures, and are charting a new course, with already-globally-deployed solutions delivering real-world results and rapidly improving models through real-field applications.

As a Systems Engineer on the Hardware Team at Field AI, you will bring new robot platforms into our fleet and ensure that they operate at high standards in real world environments. This will involve integrating our control systems, autonomy stack, and payloads onto new robotic platforms. Your work will span across areas including platform abstraction, robot control, autonomy, sim-to-real validation, and electro-mechanical integration.

Responsibilities may include the full lifecycle from initial platform bring-up through safety qualification and field deployment. You will collaborate closely with the Autonomy/RL, Manipulation, Mechanical, and Electrical teams to build tightly integrated solutions ready for deployment in challenging field environments. Additionally while your focus will be on platform integration, you may contribute across hardware, field operations, and autonomy domains.

What You Will Get To Do

1. Platform Integration & Controls

Platform Abstraction:

Build software abstraction layers between each robot’s native control stack (such as ROS/ROS2) and our own systems, enabling payloads to move across platforms.

Robot Controls & Navigation:

Ensure navigation and controls stacks running correctly on physical hardware across quadruped, humanoid, and wheeled platforms.

Electro-Mechanical Integration:

Work with mechanical and electrical engineers on designing and integrating mechanical (saddles) and electrical (power distributions boards) interfaces .

Sim-to-Real:

Validate and adapt RL-based autonomy policies from simulation (Isaac, Gazebo, MuJoCo) to real-world performance on terrain, stairs, and uneven ground.

Cross-Functional Integration:

Coordinate across Autonomy/RL, Manipulation, Mechanical, and Electrical teams to bring new platforms online.

Testing & Validation:

Use SIL/HIL testing to ensure integrated systems are safe, reliable, and ready for field operation. Test features such as safety features and operations under different Operational Design Domains (ODDs).

New Robots:

Identify, procure, test, and integrate diverse new robotic systems.

Multi-Platform Support:

Support multiple robot morphologies including legged, quadruped, biped/humanoid, and wheeled UGVs.

3. Safety & Infrastructure

Safety Systems:

Implement e-stop and redundancy/fault-tolerant safety layers, contributing to functional safety (ISO 26262, ASIL) as practices mature.

Charging & Docking Infrastructure:

Support charging station and docking infrastructure for charging, data offload, and communications.

Field Deployment Logistics:

Handle the hands-on logistics of standing up new robot platforms for field deployment across construction, mining, and oil & gas environments.

What You Have

Education:

B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field.

Experience Level:

We are looking to fill this role with someone with 3-9 years of experience.

Software:

Hands-on experience with middleware (ROS/ROS2) and computing languages (python, C++).

Robotics Software Generalist:

Strong generalist robotics software background spanning controls, navigation, and systems integration across legged and wheeled platforms.

Sim-to-Real Experience:

Comfort working across the sim-to-real gap, validating RL or autonomy policies from simulation (Isaac, Gazebo, MuJoCo) on physical hardware.

Cross Functional Hardware Knowledge:

Working familiarity with motors, actuation, BLDC motor controllers, and power distribution or electrical systems.

Communication Protocols:

Familiarity with CAN bus, EtherCAT, or similar real-time robotics communication protocols.

Systems Thinking:

Ability to work across mechanical, electrical, controls, and autonomy domains to make integrated systems function reliably on real hardware.

What Will Set You Apart

Multi-Platform Experience:

Experience integrating software across multiple robot platforms, including legged/quadruped, humanoid, and wheeled UGVs (e.g., Unitree, Boston Dynamics, Clearpath).

Field Environments:

Experience deploying robots in harsh, diverse industrial field environments such as construction, mining, and oil & gas.

Functional Safety:

Background in functional safety standards (ISO 26262, ASIL, SOTIF/ISO 21448) and safety-critical systems testing and validation.

Advanced Controls:

Experience with whole-body control, impedance/admittance control, MPC, or trajectory optimization for legged or manipulator systems.

Fleet & Infrastructure:

Experience with multi-robot fleet operations, auto-docking/charging infrastructure, or teleoperation systems

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $100,000-$175,000. The actual offer for this position will be based on factors such as relevant experience, competencies, certifications, and how well the candidate meets the qualifications outlined above. Part of our compensation package also includes full benefits, equity, and generous time.

Field AI Onsite Work Philosophy

At Field AI, we believe the most effective way to collaborate and solve complex challenges is by working together in person. This is a fully onsite role, and candidates will be expected to work from our Irvine, CA office. In-person engagement is essential to our success, and we offer flexible working hours to support focus and work-life balance.

Why Join Field AI?

We are solving one of the world’s most complex challenges: deploying robots in unstructured, previously unknown environments. Our Field Foundational Models set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring our approach is explainable and safe for deployment.

You will have the opportunity to work with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. With a decade-long track record of deploying solutions in the field , winning DARPA challenge segments, and bringing expertise from organizations like DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self-Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, we are set to achieve our ambitious goals.

Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution

To tackle such ambitious challenges, we need a team as unique as our vision - innovators who go beyond conventional methods and are eager to tackle tough, uncharted questions. We’re seeking individuals who challenge the status quo, dive into uncharted territory, and bring interdisciplinary expertise. Our team requires not only top AI talent but also exceptional software developers, engineers, product designers, field deployment experts, and communicators.

We are headquartered in always-sunny Irvine, Southern California and have US based and global teammates.

Join us, shape the future, and be part of a fun, close-knit team on an exciting journey!

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.