Robotics Engineer

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Autonomous Heavy Equipment Start-Up | Founding Robotics Engineer | San Francisco | On-Site | $160-200K

About the Company:

Our client is an early-stage, well-funded robotics start-up on a mission to revolutionise the heavy construction sector through autonomy. Founded by experienced entrepreneurs and backed by leading investors, they retrofit large-scale civil and industrial machinery with intelligent control systems to enable fully autonomous operation.

What They Build:

Their platform integrates advanced perception (LiDAR, stereo vision, RTK GNSS, IMU) with tele-operation capabilities and CAN network integration. They work closely with major industry partners to pilot their systems in real-world, high-impact environments. As their first engineering hire, you’ll see your work deployed to operational sites in months.

The Challenge:

You’ll tackle autonomy in unstructured outdoor environments: deformable terrain, variable traction, GNSS dropouts, multi-robot coordination, and the unpredictable conditions of active worksites. This is applied robotics at its most dynamic, with the opportunity to design and own systems end-to-end.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and extend robotics middleware components for low-latency tele-operation.
• Reverse-engineer undocumented CAN signals from heavy machinery.
• Contribute to both software and hardware system design.
• Participate in weekly field tests; iterate hardware and software rapidly based on results.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Strong C++ and Python programming skills; proven experience with robotics middleware (e.g., ROS 2 or similar).
• Hands-on experience integrating sensors such as LiDAR, cameras, IMU, and RTK GNSS.

Preferred Qualifications

• CAN bus protocol expertise and reverse-engineering experience.
• Background in electrical or mechanical engineering.
• Competitive salary in the $160-200K range (with scheduled review at 6 months or next funding).
• 2 – 3% equity in the company.
• Full health, dental, and vision coverage.
• $5K equipment and workstation budget.
• Relocation assistance and daily provided lunch.

Why Join Now:

• First hire:
  Help shape architecture, culture, and core technology from the ground up.
• High impact:
  Your work will define the reference stack for an emerging industry.
• Fast cycle time:
  Deploy updates to live hardware weekly, not quarterly.

• Seniority level
  
  Mid-Senior level

• Employment type
  
  Full-time

• Job function
  
  Engineering and Information Technology
• Industries Civil Engineering and Automation Machinery Manufacturing

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