Senior Software Engineer - Navigation

JOB SUMMARY:

As a Senior Software Engineer - Navigation at Apptronik, you will lead the development of advanced navigation systems that empower our general-purpose robots to seamlessly operate in human environments. These robots are designed to move, work, and interact alongside people — in spaces built for humans — performing meaningful tasks that improve efficiency and quality of life.

You will be responsible for designing and deploying high-performance, robust, and scalable navigation software that allows our robots to traverse dynamic, semi-structured environments safely and intelligently. This role sits at the intersection of autonomy, perception, and controls, requiring both deep technical expertise and strong systems-level thinking.

Essential Duties and Key Responsibilities

• Architect, implement, and deploy state-of-the-art navigation systems for humanoid robots operating in human-centric environments.
• Design global and local path planning methods, incorporating obstacle avoidance, recovery behaviors, and failure-mode handling.
• Encode human-aware navigation behaviors for safe, predictable motion in shared spaces.
• Work closely with Autonomy, Perception, and Controls teams to deliver cohesive, real-world-capable navigation systems.
• Validate algorithms in both high-fidelity simulation and physical robot environments.
• Create automated and continuous integration test frameworks for robust software delivery.
• Maintain well-documented, modular codebases with rigorous code reviews and CI pipelines.
• Author technical design documents and system diagrams.
• Guide junior engineers, foster a culture of collaboration, and uphold Apptronik’s core values: Curiosity, Humility, Integrity, Passion, and Creativity.

Skills and Required Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in C++ (modern standards) in a Linux environment.
• Deep understanding of robot navigation fundamentals, including:
• Path planning, motion control, collision avoidance, and estimation.
• Mapping and localization (e.g., SLAM).
• Multi-agent planning or human-aware navigation is a plus.
• Familiarity with reinforcement learning or learning-based planning methods.
• Experience integrating navigation stacks with perception and control systems.
• Proven track record of delivering production-grade navigation software for autonomous robots.
• Experience with real-world robot testing, debugging, and tuning.
• Experience with ROS/ROS2, CI/CD, and modern software development best practices.
• Strong debugging and profiling skills for performance optimization.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on environment delivering real-world results.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• MS or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (or BS with equivalent industry experience).
• 5+ years developing and deploying navigation or autonomy systems for mobile robots.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• [Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
• Hearing and speech to communicate]