Apptronik · 2 months ago
Senior Software Engineer - Navigation
Austin, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
5+ years expApptronik is building robots for the real world to improve human quality of life and to help solve the ever-increasing labor shortage problem. As a Senior Software Engineer - Navigation, you will lead the development of advanced navigation systems for general-purpose robots designed to operate in human environments, ensuring they can navigate safely and intelligently. Your role will involve designing scalable navigation software and collaborating with various teams to deliver cohesive systems.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Industrial AutomationMachinery ManufacturingRobotics
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
Qualification
Required
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)
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
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
Preferred
Multi-agent planning or human-aware navigation is a plus
Familiarity with reinforcement learning or learning-based planning methods
Company
Apptronik
Apptronik is a robotics company that designs and builds human-centered robotics systems.
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Apptronik has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (22)
2024 (5)
2023 (5)
2021 (3)
2020 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$762.79MKey Investors
Humanoid GlobalTerex
2025-11-25Series B· $331M
2025-10-02Corporate Round· $0.06M
2025-02-13Series A· $403M
Leadership Team
Jeffrey Cardenas
CEO
Nicholas Paine
CTO
Recent News
2025-12-25
2025-12-22
2025-12-17
Company data provided by crunchbase