Robotics Software Engineer (Forward Deployed)

Robotics Software Engineer (Forward Deployed) – Autonomous Systems

To be considered for this role, you must be eligible for security clearance in the future.

About the Opportunity:

We're partnering with a well-funded autonomy startup developing next-generation unmanned systems for defense and industrial applications. Backed by leading investors and experiencing significant growth, the company is building advanced autonomous technologies that operate in complex, real-world environments.

As a Forward Deployed Engineer , you'll play a critical role at the intersection of engineering, customer success, and field operations. This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys building sophisticated software while also seeing their work deployed and used in mission-critical scenarios.

You'll work closely with robotics engineers, autonomy specialists, and end users to ensure cutting-edge technology performs reliably in demanding operational environments.

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop and enhance software for autonomous navigation, mapping, and mission execution.
• Work closely with product and engineering teams to deliver new capabilities and improve system performance.
• Deploy and support autonomous systems in real-world environments, helping customers achieve successful outcomes.
• Diagnose and resolve technical issues in the field, rapidly iterating based on operational feedback.
• Lead and support testing activities, demonstrations, and customer evaluations.
• Act as a bridge between users and engineering teams, translating operational requirements into technical solutions.
• Contribute to software architecture, code quality, reliability, and maintainability initiatives.
• Help shape product direction through direct exposure to customer use cases and deployment challenges.

What We're Looking For

• Experience in a technical role that combines software development with customer-facing or operational responsibilities.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong software engineering fundamentals, including algorithms, data structures, and system design.
• Experience developing production-quality software in C++, Python, or similar languages.
• Hands-on experience with robotics, autonomous systems, or real-time software platforms.
• Familiarity with robotic middleware and autonomy frameworks such as ROS.
• Experience integrating software with hardware systems and sensors.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel and support field deployments as required.

Preferred Experience

• Autonomous aerial systems, drones, UAVs, or UAS platforms.
• Localization, SLAM, sensor fusion, perception, or computer vision.
• Embedded systems and resource-constrained computing environments.
• DevOps practices, containerization, and deployment automation.
• Experience working within defense, aerospace, or government programs.
• Active U.S. security clearance.

Why Join?

• Work on technology that is deployed in real-world, high-impact environments.
• Join a fast-growing engineering team tackling some of the most challenging autonomy problems in the industry.
• Collaborate with highly experienced robotics, aerospace, and software professionals.
• Competitive compensation, equity participation, and comprehensive benefits package.
• Flexible PTO and a culture focused on ownership, execution, and continuous learning.

If you're excited by the challenge of taking advanced autonomous systems from development to deployment, we'd love to hear from you.