Robotics Software Engineer

Job Title: Robotics Software Engineer Location: San Francisco, On-site Website: https://opendroids.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-droids/ NOTE: This role is for recent graduates or early-career professionals—not for current students. About Us Open Droids is an early-stage robotics startup redefining the robotics landscape with disruptive, low-cost, human-capable Open Source robots. Our mission is to make robotics accessible and impactful across industries through community-driven designs and cutting-edge technology. We’re growing our team in San Francisco and are looking for passionate individuals eager to contribute to a dynamic, collaborative environment. If you’re excited about working on real-world robotics problems and creating solutions that matter, we’d love to hear from you! Role Overview We are seeking a Robotics Software Engineer to develop advanced software solutions for autonomous and semi-autonomous robots. This on-site position in San Francisco is perfect for recent graduates or early-career professionals eager to work on challenging robotics problems. You’ll work with cutting-edge robotics frameworks and libraries like ROS2, NAV2, and OpenCV, while building innovative systems for autonomous navigation, motion planning, and robot perception. Roles and Responsibilities Develop advanced robotics software systems using ROS2 for modularity and scalability. Design and implement multi-layered motion planning frameworks, incorporating dynamic path planning, collision prediction, and behavior trees for adaptive robot behavior. Enhance and optimize the NAV2 stack for challenging real-world scenarios, including multi-robot coordination, complex obstacle negotiation, and robust recovery behaviors. Create advanced SLAM solutions integrating graph-based optimization techniques for accurate localization in dynamic and GPS-denied environments. Develop robust perception pipelines using OpenCV and deep learning models for real-time object detection, semantic segmentation, and 3D scene understanding. Integrate sensor fusion techniques to combine data from LiDAR, cameras, IMUs, and other sensors, ensuring precise environmental modeling and decision-making. Design and implement high-performance state machines and decision-making algorithms to handle complex task execution and error handling. Simulate multi-robot systems and validate algorithms in Gazebo or PyBullet, considering real-world constraints like sensor noise, communication delays, and system latency. Collaborate on implementing distributed systems for multi-agent planning and task allocation, ensuring efficient resource utilization and fault tolerance. Work closely with hardware teams to optimize software for computational efficiency on embedded systems, considering power and thermal constraints. Contribute to open-source robotics frameworks by improving core libraries, fixing bugs, and sharing insights from real-world deployments. Stay updated with emerging technologies in robotics, such as reinforcement learning for robotic control, edge computing, and 5G-enabled distributed control systems. Qualifications Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Hands-on experience with ROS2, including developing and deploying custom packages. Proficiency in Python and C++ for software development in robotics. Solid understanding of path planning, SLAM, and navigation algorithms. Familiarity with NAV2, OpenCV, and simulation environments like Gazebo. Experience with integrating and calibrating sensors (LiDAR, cameras, IMUs). Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to work independently and in a team, with excellent communication skills. Willingness to relocate to San Francisco if not already based in the city. Why Join Us? Be part of an innovative startup at the forefront of the robotics revolution. Work with a team of passionate engineers and visionaries. Contribute to the development of open-source robotics solutions. Enjoy the opportunity to learn and grow in a fast-paced environment. Job Type: Full-time Pay: $60,000.00 per year Benefits: Stock options Schedule: 8 hour shift Monday to Friday Experience: Robotics Software: 1 year (Preferred) Ability to Commute: San Ramon, CA 94582 (Required) Ability to Relocate: San Ramon, CA 94582: Relocate before starting work (Required) Work Location: In person