Software Engineer II - Robotics

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain software for robotic systems, embedded interfaces, control applications, test systems, production support tools, and operator-facing tools.
• Support software development from concept through implementation, simulation, hardware bring-up, integration, testing, deployment, troubleshooting, and production support.
• Integrate software with motors, actuators, encoders, sensors, motion controllers, embedded systems, machine vision systems, industrial networks, and robotic equipment.
• Partner with mechanical, electrical, controls, systems, manufacturing, test, and quality teams to define requirements, interfaces, verification approaches, and release criteria.
• Troubleshoot issues across software, controls, electrical hardware, sensors, actuators, networks, robotic hardware, and production equipment.
• Support code reviews, version control, automated testing, release practices, documentation, and production support practices.
• Communicate software status, technical risks, trade studies, test results, and implementation plans to technical and cross-functional stakeholders.

Requirements

• Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 2–5 years of professional software engineering experience involving robotics, motion control, embedded systems, hardware systems, or other complex technical products.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and/or Python.
• Experience with robotics frameworks such as ROS or ROS 2, including real-time variants or real-time robotics applications.
• Hands-on experience integrating software with motors, actuators, encoders, sensors, motion controllers, embedded systems, machine vision, or industrial networks.
• Experience with real-time or embedded software, control loops, deterministic timing, and hardware bring-up.
• Knowledge of software architecture, Git-based workflows, code reviews, automated testing, release practices, documentation, and production support.
• Experience developing in Linux environments.
• Ability to define requirements, evaluate alternatives, align stakeholders, and deliver software in a cross-functional hardware development environment.
• Preferred experience includes motion planning, kinematics and dynamics, trajectory generation, controls software, robot calibration, perception systems, state estimation, and sensor fusion.
• Preferred experience includes real-time operating systems, bare-metal embedded development, hard real-time control, safety-critical software, aerospace or industrial communication interfaces, simulation, digital twins, hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, automated test equipment, and production test systems.
• Preferred experience includes fault tolerance, redundancy, cybersecurity, configuration control, harsh-environment systems, and aerospace, defense, space, advanced manufacturing, industrial robotics, or medical-device environments.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary of $108,000–$135,000 USD and company stock as part of total compensation.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
• Medical plans including HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP option with company HSA contribution, plus dental and vision coverage.
• Paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
• Subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers where available, discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, a 50% employee merchandise discount, and other employee discounts.
• Based onsite at Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, California; the role may involve prolonged sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.