Robotics Engineer

Salary: $300,000 + Equity + Full Benefits

Location: Remote (US-Based)

The Challenge: Our client, a venture-backed defense tech startup founded by aerospace veterans is building class 5 Autonomous drones and worlds first command-and-control (C2) software. They operate on airborne compute in contested, RF-denied environments with delayed telemetry and noisy sensors. We are seeking a hands-on Robotics Engineer to own and scale the core autonomy stack across real aircraft hardware and live swarming deployments.

Key Responsibilities: Autonomy Stack Execution: Develop, implement, and refine onboard perception, path planning, and control algorithms for multi-agent UAV swarms. Resilient Communications: Integrate inter-robot and C2 protocols to ensure reliable tactical edge decision-making under degraded or contested communications. Edge Architecture & Tradeoffs: Balance onboard vs. offboard compute, sensor bandwidth, and state estimation tradeoffs as software scales onto physical flight hardware. Sensor Fusion & Tracking: Build and validate production algorithms for state estimation, multi-sensor data association, and target tracking (e.g., Kalman filters, SLAM).Hardware-in-the-Loop & Flight Testing: Transition code from simulation to hardware integration, debugging embedded systems and closing the feedback loop using live telemetry.

Experience: Hands-on experience developing, deploying, and validating software on physical robotics or autonomous vehicles (airborne systems preferred).Systems Languages: Strong proficiency in C/C++, Rust, or Golang. Robotics Algorithms: Solid foundation in core autonomy concepts (SLAM, Kalman/particle filters, Dubins path planning, A, behavior trees, RL*).Hardware & Diagnostic Fundamentals: Practical working knowledge of embedded interfaces (SPI, I2C, serial) and diagnostic tools (logic analyzers, oscilloscopes).

Preferred Qualifications: Experience with robotics middleware (ROS2/DDS, ZeroMQ, gRPC) and serialization (Protobuf).Hands-on familiarity with perception systems, sensor fusion, or multi-target tracking (JPDA, MHT).Practical electronics skills (schematic interpretation, soldering, breadboarding).Familiarity with government UxS standards (OMS/UCI, STANAG 4586, FACE) or ability to obtain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance. What’s on OfferComp & Equity: Up to $300,000 base salary + competitive equity in a high-growth defense startup.

Benefits: Full health/dental/vision coverage, 401(k), PTO, and monthly wellness stipend. Impact: Direct, hands-on contribution to critical national security hardware and autonomous flight software.