Senior Robotics Controls Engineer
San Francisco | On-site | $180,000–$220,000 base + equity
What if the control systems you built weren’t sitting in simulation or waiting years to reach production?
What if you could work on autonomous systems already operating in demanding real-world environments, where the controls, localisation and navigation software you develop has an immediate physical impact?
This is an opportunity to join a heavily funded advanced engineering business building Physical AI and autonomous systems at real production scale.
You’ll work on difficult controls problems where terrain, positioning, payload, hardware behaviour and environmental conditions are constantly changing.
If you want to build autonomy that actually moves in the physical world, this is that kind of role.
What you'll be working on
You’ll design, implement and tune the core controls behind large autonomous platforms.
That includes:
- Developing MPC and PID control algorithms
- Working across lateral and longitudinal control, steering, path following and navigation
- Building state-estimation and localisation systems using GPS/RTK, IMU and sensor fusion
- Solving localisation challenges when positioning becomes unreliable
- Testing your work on real autonomous systems and using field data and log replay to improve performance
- Debugging complex control behaviour across software, sensors and hardware
- Working closely with perception, planning and hardware engineers
- Supporting occasional field deployment, testing and tuning
This is hands-on engineering.
You’ll be close to the hardware, close to the systems and close to the technical problems.
Why this is different:
The technology is already deployed.
You won't be joining a team spending years proving whether autonomous technology can work. You’ll be improving real systems already operating in production.
The technical problems are also genuinely difficult.
These platforms operate in environments where localisation can become unreliable, conditions change constantly and control systems have to respond safely and predictably to real physical variables.
That creates engineering challenges you simply don't encounter in simulation-heavy or purely research-focused robotics roles.
You’ll also join an engineering-first culture where technical people have genuine influence over product decisions.
The business has raised significant funding and is continuing to expand the application of its autonomy technology into new markets.
What we're looking for:
You’ll need genuine hands-on robotics controls experience rather than purely theoretical exposure.
The strongest candidates will bring:
- Professional experience in robotics, autonomous systems or vehicle controls
- Hands-on experience with ROS and Linux
- Experience working with Model Predictive Control (MPC)
- Strong Python and C++
- Experience deploying control, localisation or navigation systems onto real autonomous platforms
- Knowledge of state estimation, including Kalman filters, EKF/UKF or sensor fusion
- A relevant degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or Electrical Engineering
- Evidence that you can build, test, iterate and ship production systems
Experience within autonomous vehicles, robotics or other complex physical systems would be particularly relevant.
An MS or PhD in a controls-related discipline is useful, but it isn't essential. Practical deployment experience matters more than academic credentials alone.
The environment
This is a fast-moving engineering environment for somebody who likes difficult technical problems, high ownership and seeing their work reach real hardware.
It will suit someone who enjoys building, testing and iterating rather than working exclusively in research.
You’ll work alongside engineers across controls, perception, planning and hardware on autonomous technology with genuine real-world deployment.
Package
Senior level: typically $180,000–$220,000 base
Equity: included
Benefits: included
Location: San Francisco
Working pattern: 5 days per week on-site
There is also scope to consider particularly strong Staff-level engineers at a higher compensation level.
Relocation and visa sponsorship are available, including H-1B transfers and new sponsorship where appropriate.
Interested?
You don't need to come from one specific industry.
If you've built controls, localisation or navigation systems that have actually run on autonomous hardware, and you want to work on difficult real-world autonomy problems rather than purely simulated ones, I’d like to hear from you.
Apply and we can have an initial conversation about the technology, the team and whether it makes sense for your next move.