Backend Software Engineer - Autonomy

Job Description

Job Description

At Pickle Robot, we're on a mission to automate global supply chains with Physical AI. Our robots work alongside warehouse teams to unload trucks and containers — one of the toughest, most understaffed jobs in logistics — making the work safer, faster, and more efficient for the people doing it.  Loading trucks comes next, followed by the Dill Autonomy Engine: generalized autonomy that will eventually orchestrate robots across entire logistics processes.

We're looking for a Backend Software Engineer to join our autonomy team and build the scalable systems behind task planning and robotic workflows. This role sits at the intersection of software engineering and robotics infrastructure — you'll work closely with robotics engineers to design backend services that power real robotic systems on the warehouse floor, bringing solid engineering practices into an environment where you're not afraid to get close to the hardware.

At Pickle, your code directly impacts how autonomous robots operate in production warehouses. You'll own meaningful pieces of the stack, work alongside a tight-knit engineering team, and see the results of your work in the real world.

• Design and build backend services supporting task planning and autonomy
• Develop scalable, reliable, and performant systems using Python (and C++ where needed)
• Contribute to system architecture and service design within the team
• Build and maintain event-driven systems and messaging-based architectures
• Collaborate closely with robotics engineers to integrate backend systems with real-world workflows
• Improve system performance, reliability, and maintainability across services
• Participate in code reviews and technical discussions to elevate engineering standards

• 3-5+ years of experience in backend or distributed systems engineering
• Strong programming experience in Python, with solid experience in C++ or another strongly typed language (e.g., Rust, Go, Java)
• Strong understanding of software architecture, concurrency, and distributed system design
• Experience building or supporting event-driven systems, messaging frameworks (e.g., Kafka, ROS), or service-oriented architectures
• Experience developing systems that interface with hardware, robotics, or real-world operational environments is a plus

At Pickle Robot Company, we believe transparency builds trust. The salary range listed here is provided in accordance with Massachusetts law and reflects what we reasonably and in good faith expect to offer for this role. We often consider candidates at different levels of seniority, and final compensation will reflect the level at which a candidate is hired, along with factors like experience and location.

Pickle provides best-in-class benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance; unlimited vacation; paid federal and state holidays; 401(k) contributions of 5% of your salary; company-covered travel expenses; and other perks to make your working life more fun, comfortable, and productive. 

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.