Robotics Software, QA Test Engineer

Aurelius SystemsSan Francisco, CA, USAUSD 140k-180k / year + EquityPosted on May 6, 2026Apply nowLocationSan FranciscoEmployment TypeFull timeLocation TypeOn-siteDepartmentEngineeringRobotics SoftwareCompensation$140K – $180K Offers EquityWho We AreAurelius Systems is a VC backed defense tech startup building autonomous, edge deployed directed energy systems for counter-UAS. We build laser weapons to shoot down drones.We're a small team of engineers, former US military operators, and subject matter experts scaling America's directed energy dominance. The first cost effective, reliable and robust laser weapon system.Our namesake isn't an accident. Marcus Aurelius wrote about doing the work in front of you, every day, without excuses. Henry Ford didn't wait for permission to reinvent manufacturing. That's how we operate — small team, unreasonable output, no hiding behind the unachievable.In addition to our San Francisco lab, we’ve opened a Detroit manufacturing hub and we field test weekly on our own 400-acre private range.The Role And Your ImpactWe need a Software, QA Test Engineer who lives in the lab and owns software cleanliness for Archimedes. You'll partner directly with our Principal Robotics SWE on CI/CD, regression infrastructure, and the pipeline that gets code from commit to a working system in the field. Test is a first-class engineering function here. You're a test builder for robotics system performance and validation, not a gatekeeper.What You'll OwnTest infrastructure across unit, integration, end-to-end, and hardware-in-the-loopCI/CD pipelines, build health, and release gatesRegression suites and automated test coverage across the robotics stackBug triage and reproducibility — you find it, you reproduce it, you own it until it's fixedRelease cleanliness for fielded softwareLab time on real hardware, not test management from behind a deskWhat We're Looking For3+ years building test infrastructure for robotics, hardware, or safety-critical softwareStrong Python and C++ test skillsBuilt CI/CD pipelines from scratch and operated them in productionHardware-in-the-loop or rig-based testing experienceComfortable on real hardware, not just simulatorsWhere you probably come from: QA or test infrastructure roles at defense, robotics, automotive autonomy, automation tooling, or anywhere with HIL test rigs.We want to talk if: You think test is a first-class engineering discipline, not a stage gate. You've built test infrastructure from scratch and you actually use it.Not a fit if: Your background is manual QA only, you've never shipped a CI pipeline you built yourself, or you've never debugged on real hardware.Nice To HavesROS2 testing experienceHardware-in-the-loop rig designPerformance and stress testing on real-time systemsDefense or safety-critical software release experienceEducationBS in CS, EE, or equivalent. Track record matters more than degreeHow You OperateExtreme bias for action. You ship working test infrastructure, not test plansYou debug from first principles, not intuition aloneComfortable with ambiguity and fast iteration in a startup environmentClear communicator across software, hardware, and engineering teamsSelf directed. You identify what needs to happen next and do it without being toldWhy Join Aurelius Systems?Build more in 1 month than most engineers build in 1 year. We field test weekly. Your work goes downrange, not into a filing cabinet.Career velocity is real. At ~10 engineers, there are no layers between you and impact.Work on a problem that actually matters. Small cheap drones are changing warfare. Our laser systems are the asymmetric answer — infinite magazine, near zero cost per shot, scalable to every base, border, facility, and truck.Join the densest defense startup ecosystem in the country. California is where the next generation of defense companies are being built.How We WorkCore hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 6. When we're sprinting toward a demo or field test, the team ramps up — nights, weekends, whatever it takes to ship. When the sprint lands, we ramp down. We don't manufacture intensity for show.BenefitsCompetitive salary + equityUnited Health Care medical, dental, and vision coverageFlexible 18 days PTO + 5 sick daysTravel to field test events and range daysCovered daily lunches and office snacks + drinksE-bike / scooter stipend ( Up to $500)Direct access to leadership and real ownership over your workExport Control NoticeThis role requires access to export-controlled information or items that require "U.S. Person" status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a "U.S. Person": (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).Compensation Range: $140K - $180KApply nowSee more open positions at Aurelius Systems