Robotics Engineer (Ground Autonomy)

TL;DR

Robotics Engineer (Ground Autonomy): Designing, building, and deploying autonomy systems for unmanned ground vehicles with an accent on control systems, motion planning, and perception integration. Focus on developing robust software for real-world operational platforms under complex terrain and mission constraints.

Location: Must be based in or able to work from Palo Alto (Hybrid)

Compensation: $150,000 – $185,000 + Equity + Bonus

Company

hirify.global is a defense technology startup building all-domain collaborative autonomy systems for sea, air, and land assets.

What you will do

• Design and implement control algorithms including path following and vehicle dynamics modeling.
• Develop motion planning strategies for diverse and dynamic terrains.
• Integrate perception pipelines using camera, lidar, radar, and IMU data.
• Build and extend ROS2-based autonomy stacks and mission logic.
• Drive autonomy integration from prototype to field deployment.
• Diagnose autonomy failures and develop performance metrics for real-world systems.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship and eligibility for U.S. security clearance required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, or related engineering field.
• 3+ years of experience with C++ and/or Python in Linux environments.
• Hands-on experience deploying ROS2-based autonomy systems on real-world platforms.
• Experience designing control systems and building perception pipelines for ground autonomy.
• Strong systems-thinking and debugging skills.

Nice to have

• Experience with multi-agent or coordinated ground vehicle systems.
• Knowledge of SLAM, GPS-denied navigation, or advanced localization.
• Familiarity with motion planning algorithms like RRT, MPC, or A*.
• Experience with real-time or safety-critical systems.
• Familiarity with military ground systems and operational tactics.

Culture & Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and families.
• Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2-week minimum.
• 401k program with company matching.
• 16-week paid parental leave.
• Work/home office and monthly health/wellness stipends.
• Equity package and life insurance.