Approach Venture ยท 1 day ago
Senior Robotics Engineer - Defense-Tech
Austin, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$150K/yr - $250K/yr
5+ years expApproach Venture is a well-funded, early-stage technology company developing autonomous robotic systems for high-consequence defense applications. As a Senior Robotics Engineer, you will own the development of the physical control stack that governs how the platform moves, stabilizes, and reacts in flight, ensuring exceptional performance across perception, decision-making, and real-time control.
Management Consulting
No H1B
Security Clearance RequiredU.S. Citizen OnlyHiring Manager
Torey Bell
Responsibilities
Design and implement high-performance control systems to enable stable, precise motion during aggressive, high-speed maneuvers
Develop and tune control algorithms such as PID and related methods for real-world robotic platforms under dynamic loads
Write efficient, production-quality embedded software in Rust, C, or C++ for real-time operation and direct hardware control
Interface with actuators, motor controllers, and sensors using protocols such as CAN bus within an RTOS environment
Fuse sensor inputs from cameras and inertial systems using state estimation techniques such as EKF or UKF
Translate perception and tracking outputs into reliable, deterministic motor commands that close the autonomy loop
Build and maintain internal Python-based tooling for calibration, diagnostics, logging, and deployment workflows
Support rapid iteration through testing, validation, and continuous improvement of control performance on hardware
Qualification
Required
5+ years of experience developing robotics or embedded control systems in real-world environments
Strong foundation in control theory with hands-on experience implementing closed-loop control on physical systems
Proficiency in systems-level programming using Rust, C, or C++
Experience working with embedded compute platforms and real-time operating systems
Practical knowledge of motor drivers, sensors, and low-level hardware interfaces
Comfortable using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and CAN tools
Ability to work onsite with hardware as part of a fast-paced engineering team
Eligibility to access export-controlled technical data under U.S. regulations
Willingness to complete background screening as required
Preferred
Familiarity with robotics middleware such as ROS2, DDS, or similar frameworks
Experience with advanced control techniques including model-predictive or adaptive control
Exposure to PCB design, signal integrity, or electromagnetic compatibility considerations
Background working on safety-critical or mission-critical systems
Prior experience in defense, autonomy, or hardware-focused startups
Active security clearance or ability to obtain one
Demonstrated passion for robotics or complex engineering projects outside of work
Benefits
Relocation
Meaningful equity
Company
Approach Venture
Enabling founding teams building the future of frontier technology to achieve their full potential.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
Bryce Dabbs
Founder & CEO
Tristan Cembrinski
Partner
Company data provided by crunchbase