Principal Robotics Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Principal Robotics Engineer – Own the Full Autonomy Stack for Tactical Ground Robotics!

Austin, TX | Onsite

Opportunity Summary

A well-funded startup is developing autonomous robotic systems to counter emerging aerial threats in dynamic and hostile environments. We’re building small, smart platforms from the ground up, with real-time perception, embedded decision-making, and field-validated control systems. As one of the first engineers on the team, you'll work directly with the CTO to lead the development of core robotic capabilities, from firmware and sensor integration to real-world testing and tactical deployment. This is a 0-to-1 role for someone who wants to touch every layer of the stack, including firmware, control, perception, and tools to help define the future of machine autonomy in the defense space. You’ll have access to a full prototyping lab, work on live hardware, and see your work tested in real-time field conditions.

About Us

We are building cutting-edge robotic defense systems that operate autonomously in chaotic, high-threat environments. Our team combines experience in defense systems, autonomy, and machine learning. We’re tackling the toughest challenges in perception, control, and systems integration to deliver hardware that works in any conditions. Our pace is fast, our expectations are high, and our mission is urgent.

Job Duties

• Design and bring up robotic systems from scratch, including sensor selection, driver development, and embedded integration
• Write and optimize low-level firmware in Rust or C++ on real-time operating systems to manage motion control, sensors, and communication interfaces
• Develop robust control loops (PID or model-predictive) and manage distributed motor control networks via CAN bus
• Integrate and calibrate sensors, including cameras, IMUs, and encoders to support visual-inertial state estimation
• Fuse perception data (e.g., vision, inertial, audio) using techniques like EKF or UKF for real-time tracking and stabilization
• Build tools in Python for logging, visualization, calibration, and continuous integration
• Design and execute fast, iterative tests—both in-bench and in-the-field—to validate control and perception performance
• Support full-system debugging across software, electrical, and mechanical subsystems
• Implement scalable software architecture for real-time systems, ensuring reliability and extensibility under edge conditions
• Collaborate across disciplines—hardware, computer vision, AI / ML—to ensure all systems align in performance and delivery

Qualifications

Preferred Experience

Why Join Us

Compensation Details

$150,000 - $220,000 plus equity