Robotics Engineer
Location
On-site — Austin, TX
Employment Type
Full‑Time
Job Title
Robotics Engineer (Junior, Senior, Lead/Principal)
Company Overview
We are a funded startup building autonomous machines for defense markets. Our first product is designed to counter small, fast FPV suicide drones — also known as Group 1 / sUAS, similar to those seen in the Russia‑Ukraine conflict. Our robots require world‑class perception and decision‑making. If you love turning cutting‑edge machine learning into field‑ready capability, this is your playground.
We are currently focused on defensive systems, with the potential to expand into lethal systems in the future.
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Robotics Engineer to join a small, fast‑moving team. You will design and implement the physical control systems — the “body” — of our interceptor platforms. This role is critical, as the accuracy of our control theory dictates the success of every high‑speed maneuver in combat. You should be comfortable writing code and working with robotic components (actuators, controllers, compute, sensors, etc.).
Essential Duties
Design and implement high‑bandwidth control loops and advanced control algorithms (e.g., PID control) to ensure vehicle stability and enable high‑speed, precise maneuvers under dynamic load.
Write high‑quality, efficient code (primarily Rust, C, or C++) to control and manage actuators, motor drivers (via CAN bus), and sensors on a real‑time operating system (RTOS).
Integrate and fuse sensor data from cameras and IMUs (using methods such as EKF/UKF) on embedded systems (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson) to achieve reliable, real‑time state estimation.
Act as the final link in the autonomy chain, translating tracking output from the computer vision system into reliable motor commands that accurately steer the interceptor.
Define, build, and maintain Python tools for calibration, logging, and CI/CD, ensuring rapid iteration and deployment.
Requirements
Control theory & embedded systems: Strong grasp of PID control, motor drivers, CAN bus, and RTOS fundamentals. Expertise in designing control and performance for robotics applications.
Programming/frameworks: Hands‑on experience building embedded robotics systems. Proficiency in Rust, C, or C++ for speed and direct hardware interaction.
Hardware: Experience with embedded platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson and camera pipelines. Skilled in managing scopes, logic/CAN analyzers, and basic rework.
Compliance: This position requires access to export‑controlled information under ITAR. Only U.S. persons are permitted to access such information.
Must be willing to submit to a background check.
Nice‑to‑Have
Experience with ROS2, DDS, or similar middleware
Model‑predictive or adaptive control expertise
PCB design and EMC awareness
Safety‑critical workflow experience
Prior defense startup experience
Security clearance or ability to obtain one
Passion for building robots or engineering projects as a hobby
Benefits
Competitive salary + early equity
Opportunity to build systems the Department of Defense actively needs
New lab equipped with Jetsons, scopes, and 3‑D printers
Direct influence on product and technology roadmap
About the interview
Application screen phone call (30+ min)
Chat with founders (2 x 30-45 min)
Paid take-home ($500, ~4-8 hours)
Review work
Offer
Sponsored
