
Robotics Engineer – Ground Autonomy
HavocAI
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: Palo Alto • California • United States
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Salary
💰 $150,000 - $185,000 per year
About the role
- Own ground autonomy systems deployed to operational platforms
- Deliver reliable, mission-ready autonomy software
- Design and implement control algorithms (path following, trajectory generation, vehicle dynamics modeling)
- Develop motion planning strategies for diverse and dynamic terrains
- Optimize for stability, precision, and safety
- Develop and integrate perception pipelines for obstacle detection, terrain analysis, and environmental understanding
- Fuse heterogeneous sensors (camera, lidar, radar, IMU) into robust autonomy outputs
- Build and extend ROS2-based autonomy stacks
- Implement mission planning, behavior trees, and real-time navigation logic
- Maintain modular, scalable autonomy architecture
- Partner with embedded, hardware, and mission software teams
- Drive autonomy integration from prototype to field deployment
- Develop monitoring and performance metrics for deployed systems
- Diagnose autonomy failures in real-world environments
- Support live testing, demonstrations, and deployments
- Translate operational ground mission needs into autonomy capabilities
- Balance field constraints with technical feasibility
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (or related field)
- 3+ years of experience in C++ and/or Python in Linux environments
- Hands-on experience deploying ROS2-based autonomy systems on real-world ground platforms
- Experience designing control systems for autonomous vehicles (path planning, trajectory following, vehicle dynamics)
- Experience building perception systems for ground autonomy
- Strong systems-thinking and debugging skills
- Passion for mission-critical real-world robotics
- U.S. Citizenship and eligibility for U.S. security clearance
Benefits
- 100% Employer paid Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families
- Life Insurance (Employer Paid)
- Ability to participate in the companies 401k program (Matching)
- Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum
- Equity Package
- Work / Home Office Stipend
- Global Entry
- 16 Week Paid Parental Leave
- Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
C++PythonLinuxcontrol algorithmsmotion planningperception pipelinessensor fusionROS2real-time navigationdebugging
Soft Skills
systems-thinkingproblem-solvingcollaborationcommunicationadaptabilityattention to detailpassion for roboticscritical thinkingcreativityleadership