Senior / Staff Robotics Engineer, Motion Planning

About the role

RoboForce builds Physical AI systems designed to perform difficult and hazardous industrial tasks. We are looking for a Senior or Staff Robotics Engineer to manage the local mobility and safety systems for our humanoid robot fleet. You will convert AI-generated environmental data into precise, stable physical movements while ensuring the platform remains safe on unpredictable terrain. In this capacity, you will own the development of local motion planners and deterministic safety layers that allow our robots to operate in challenging industrial settings. The role requires close collaboration with perception and control teams to integrate high-level autonomy into real-time robotic platforms. You will be responsible for translating high-level task descriptions into executable motion trajectories that respect dynamic and kinematic constraints. Your work will directly impact the reliability and safety of robots deployed in environments where failure is not an option.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Design and deploy local motion planners such as MPC or MPPI to handle trajectories for heavy, non-holonomic bases on rough ground.
• Develop C++ pipelines to process neural network outputs and semantic costmaps into deterministic constraints.
• Manage real-time adjustments to the robot Center of Mass to maintain stability during payload shifts and movement on slopes.
• Create deterministic safety layers in C++ to override AI commands that exceed physical safety limits or occur during sensor failure.
• Interface local planning systems with Whole-Body Control architectures to coordinate base mobility with upper-body manipulation.
• Optimize trajectory sampling and grid processing by leveraging CUDA for high-performance computation in critical paths.
• Debug and refine SLAM or VIO systems in degraded visual conditions to ensure reliable localization and mapping.
• Estimate slip and traction using proprioceptive sensors to adapt gaits and prevent instability during operation.
• Tune rigid body dynamics, kinematics, and vehicle dynamics models for top-heavy platforms to improve robustness.
• Convert neural network outputs into safe and executable control commands for real-world deployment.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to validate motion planning solutions on actual robotic platforms.
• Implement memory management strategies in C++ to meet real-time performance and latency requirements.
• Conduct rigorous testing of local planners in field environments to validate performance under uncertainty.
• Document design decisions and interfaces to ensure maintainability and scalability of the planning stack.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or an M.S. degree with at least 4 years of industry experience.
• Experience developing and tuning local planners and trajectory optimization for mobile robots in unstructured environments.
• Knowledge of rigid body dynamics, kinematics, and vehicle dynamics for top-heavy platforms.
• Proficiency in C++17 or C++20 with a focus on real-time performance, low latency, and memory management.
• History of deploying autonomous navigation stacks on physical hardware in field environments.
• Strong understanding of control theory as it applies to robotic motion planning and stabilization.
• Ability to work independently and make critical decisions in ambiguous technical situations.
• Willingness to follow strict safety protocols and engineering standards at all times.

Nice to have

• Experience with Whole-Body Control frameworks and operational space control.
• Background in debugging SLAM or VIO systems in degraded visual conditions.
• Expertise in estimating slip and traction using proprioceptive sensors.
• Skills in using CUDA for accelerating grid processing or trajectory sampling.

Practical notes

• Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, and equity programs.
• The company provides daily lunches, dinners, and a stocked kitchen.
• Visa sponsorship and green card support are available for qualified applicants.
• The position requires on-site presence five days per week at the Milpitas location.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the country where the position is located without sponsorship needs beyond what the company provides.
• This role is full-time and requires consistent availability during standard business hours.
• Travel may be required for hardware testing in external facilities or client sites as needed.
• Applicants must submit all requested documentation within the specified timeframe to be considered.
• The company reserves the right to adjust job requirements based on evolving project needs.
• Successful candidates will undergo standard onboarding and security procedures before commencing work.
• This position is contingent upon final approval of budget and team expansion.
• Relocation assistance is not provided for this role based on current policy.
• Performance reviews will be conducted periodically to assess progress and alignment with team goals.