Embedded Software Systems Engineer – Robotics

Embedded Software Systems Engineer – Robotics

Tokyo, Japan | On-site | Full-time

We are working with a leading international robotics company developing autonomous mobile robots and warehouse automation solutions. The company has grown from a spin-out of one of the world's leading robotics research institutions into a global organisation with a highly multicultural engineering team.

Its robotic platforms are deployed in real-world logistics and warehouse environments, where reliability, real-time performance and robust embedded software are critical.

The Role

We're looking for an Embedded Software Systems Engineer to join the team developing the real-time software that powers autonomous mobile robots and automated storage systems.

You'll work close to the hardware, owning key parts of the embedded stack from design and implementation through testing, integration and field debugging. You'll collaborate closely with Electronics, Embedded Systems and Robotics Software engineers to solve complex problems at the hardware/software boundary.

This is a hands-on engineering role with genuine ownership and the opportunity to see your work running on physical robotic systems in production.

What You'll Do

• Design and implement firmware modules including communication protocols, sensor drivers, state machines and diagnostic systems
• Develop embedded software in C/C++ for MCU-based platforms
• Work with RTOS environments, making informed decisions around scheduling, concurrency, priorities and ISR constraints
• Debug hardware/software issues using oscilloscopes, logic analysers, JTAG/SWD and bus analysis tools
• Read and independently navigate complex electronic schematics and trace signal paths
• Contribute to embedded architecture across bare-metal firmware, RTOS, hardware abstraction layers and host-side libraries
• Work on real-time control loops and communication between sensors, actuators and compute platforms
• Write clear technical design documentation explaining the reasoning behind engineering decisions
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams through development, integration and field deployment

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of direct embedded systems product development experience, including hardware that has shipped
• Strong C and C++ programming skills
• Hands-on experience with ARM Cortex-M or equivalent microcontrollers
• Production experience with an RTOS such as Zephyr, FreeRTOS or equivalent
• Strong understanding of embedded communication protocols including I2C, SPI, CAN and UART
• Ability to independently read and interpret electronic schematics
• Hands-on experience debugging embedded hardware using oscilloscope, logic analyser and JTAG/SWD
• Strong problem-solving skills and an ability to understand systems beyond your immediate area of responsibility

What You'll Be Valued For

Ownership — you take responsibility for a module end-to-end and understand how it behaves in the real world.

First-principles thinking — you challenge assumptions and verify constraints rather than relying on inherited solutions.

Systems thinking — you understand the complete path from sensor input through processing and control to physical actuation.

Failure-first engineering — you think about fault handling, recovery and safe states from the beginning.

Communication — you can explain not only what you built, but why you made those design decisions.

Why Join?

• Work on cutting-edge autonomous robotics deployed in real-world environments
• Join a globally diverse and multicultural engineering team
• Opportunity for significant technical ownership and influence
• Visa sponsorship and relocation support for international candidates
• Competitive compensation package
• Commuting allowance
• Japanese social security, health insurance and pension
• Flexible working hours and dress code

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Working arrangement: On-site

Experience: 5+ years direct embedded systems experience

Visa sponsorship: Available