TerraFirma Robotics
Robotics Software Engineer - Motion Planning, State Estimation, & Control
Robot Ranch (Austin, TX)
Sponsorship not specifiedDetected 7 days ago
PythonC++AlgorithmsLinuxRoboticsAerospace EngineeringElectrical EngineeringSensorsResearchCommunication
About the role
- What we learned was simple: infrastructure is everything.
- We lacked buildings, roads, water, power, communications, and waste management, and constructing them took far more time and resources than it should have.
- From a first-principles perspective, that doesn't make sense.
Responsibilities
- State Estimation & Sensor Fusion - Design, implement, and deploy real‑time estimation pipelines that remain robust to sensor noise, vibration, and bias
- Motion / Trajectory / Path Planning - Create high‑level planners and low‑level controllers that optimize for safety, efficiency, and task completion
- Software & System Architecture - Own C++/Python codebases, and MCU firmware that realize Guidance, Navigation & Control functions on production hardware
- Simulation & Tooling - Generate digital twins, Hardware-in-the-Loop setups, and interactive visualizations to validate algorithms before field trials
- At Starbase, the biggest barrier to launching missions to Mars was not building the rocket.
- It was how slow, expensive, and complex it was to build the infrastructure around it.
- It shouldn't be this hard or costly to create the foundations for progress.
Requirements
- 2+ years of professional or advanced research experience delivering robotic software from first‑principles modelling through hardware deployment
- Proven track record owning large deliverables and driving multi‑disciplinary roadmaps
- Expertise in different motion planning frameworks
- Must be willing to work extended hours or weekends when needed to support critical deadlines or triage urgent deployment issues
- Must be willing to relocate to Austin, TX if not within commuting distance
Nice to have
- Preferred Skills & Experience
Skills
- the same engineering mindset that enabled us to tackle space exploration and mass manufacturing could be applied to infrastructure.
- Job Overview
Compensation
- Base compensation will vary based on factors such as relevant experience and education.
- Our total compensation package also includes equity in TerraFirma.
Company info
- At TerraFirma, we're redefining how the world moves earth for construction.
- Founded by former SpaceX engineers and backed by Bain Capital Ventures, TerraFirma is automating construction to make it faster, cheaper, and safer.
- Our Story & Mission
- At SpaceX, we were part of the teams that built the largest rocket in human history, launched the largest constellation of satellites ever made, and delivered connectivity to millions of people worldwide.
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