Senior Robotics Software Engineer, Controls

About the Role:

Robust AI is an early-stage startup founded by an unsurpassed team of veterans in robotics, AI, and Supply Chain who are dedicated to making the promise of Embodied AI a reality. We are a collaborative group with a diverse set of perspectives, seeking talented individuals who are passionate about making robots that are valuable to customers and delightful to use. Help us redefine the very foundation of robotics and build robots that are smart, safe, and flexible: fully autonomous and truly collaborative.

We’re looking for a robotics software engineer focused on controls to help develop and refine the core behaviors of our mobile robots. This role sits at the intersection of motion control, physical interaction, and real-world robustness. You’ll work on control systems that enable safe, intuitive, and reliable robot behavior—both autonomously and in close collaboration with human operators.

This is a hands-on role where you’ll design, implement, and deploy controllers on real hardware, contributing directly to how our robots move, react, and interact in dynamic environments.

Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and maintain control algorithms for autonomous mobile robot systems.

• Develop robust methods for physical interaction, including contact detection, disturbance handling, and safe operation under uncertainty.

• Build intuitive and safe human-in-the-loop control modes that enable effective collaboration between users and robots.

• Build and maintain firmware controllers in force- and velocity-space.

• Design and maintain reliable, efficient communication between the robot firmware and the high-level software stack.

• Validate and iterate on control strategies through real-world testing and experimentation.

Required Qualifications:

• 1–2 years of experience developing high-frequency control systems (robotics or related domains).

• Strong proficiency in C/C++.

• Familiarity with Linux-based development.

• Strong communication skills and attention to detail, especially in technical writing and documentation.

• Graduate degree (MS or equivalent experience) in Robotics, Controls, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; PhD is a plus.

• Solid understanding of control theory (e.g., PID, state estimation, system dynamics).

• Experience working with real-world robotic systems or other physical systems.

Nice to Haves:

• Experience with ROS1 or ROS2 and associated developer tools.

• Exposure to Docker and containerized workflows.

• Experience with mobile robot navigation and motion control.

• Familiarity with real-time systems and embedded software.

• Experience with force/torque sensing, state estimation, or system identification.

• Exposure to human-robot interaction or haptic interfaces.

• Experience working across the software–firmware boundary.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary dependent on your skills, qualifications and experience.

• Stock options and significant growth potential

• Strong startup culture and collaborative environment

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Flexible vacation and sick leave

• Paid parental leave

Robust AI fosters a culture of belonging and a shared commitment to equality and equity.

A diverse set of perspectives is key to building robotics systems that serve everyone.