Senior Software Engineer - Robotics Platform

Gravis Robotics
Zürich, Switzerland
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Best suited to experienced systems software engineers with robotics expertise working in the construction industry's heavy machinery domain.

Best fit for

  • Experienced systems software engineers with robotics expertise and a background in safety-critical systems
    — “Experience working on safety-critical systems and the respective software development processes”
  • Candidates with strong middleware and IDLs experience, especially in robotics platforms
    — “Experience with middleware (iceoryx2, DDS, AUTOSAR Adaptive) and IDLs (FlatBuffers, Protobuf)”
  • Individuals who can guide junior engineers and contribute to open source projects
    — “Contribute upstream to open source software projects to close gaps in required functionality”

Things to consider

  • The role requires working in harsh environments and ensuring high performance and safety
    — “non stop operation in the harshest environments”
  • Candidates must be prepared to work in a rapidly growing startup with a multidisciplinary team
    — “dynamic, multidisciplinary team”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with real-time system design and robust communication layers
    — “architect the communication layer, node orchestration and lifecycle management”
  • Showcase skills in systems languages like C++ or Rust, with specific examples of implementation
    — “Strong programming skills in a systems language like C++ or Rust”
  • Demonstrate ability to gather and translate requirements from internal stakeholders
    — “Collaborate closely with engineers from other teams to derive requirements”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Design and implementation of robotics platform
  • Guidance for junior engineers
  • Contribution to open source projects
Typical background
5+ years of software engineering experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Software EngineeringRobotics DevelopmentC++ Or Rust ProgrammingMiddleware ExperienceOpen Source Contribution

Preferred

Python Programming

Stack & domain

C++RustPythonMiddlewareDDSAutosar AdaptiveFlatbuffersProtobufCollaborationProblem SolvingCommunicationRoboticsConstruction

About the role

Original posting from Gravis Robotics via Lever

Gravis Robotics is a high-growth Series A start-up backed by SoftBank, bringing Physical AI to the construction industry, turning heavy construction machines into autonomous robots. 

Gravis began as an ETH Zurich spin-out, and our unique combination of learning-based automation and augmented remote control lets one operator safely conduct a fleet of earthmoving machines in a gamified environment. 

Backed by deep robotics research and now deployed across multiple countries with leading construction and equipment partners, our team is rapidly growing to bring this technology to a trillion-dollar industry. 

The Gravis RACK is a machine-agnostic retrofit kit that adds autonomy to excavators and wheel loaders from 10 to 100+ tonnes: LiDAR and camera sensing, GNSS RTK, networking hardware and rugged edge compute that works offline. Paired with the Slate tablet and our Copilot software, it lets an operator run a machine manually, with AI assistance, or fully autonomously.  

About the role:

At Gravis, we build high tech systems that give machine operators superhuman capabilities. To adapt in real time to changes in the environment the Gravis Rack fuses data from LiDAR, cameras, GNSS, and hydraulics into an autonomous control system. The robotics platform team builds the software foundation for our robots to enable non stop operation in the harshest environments. We ensure all algorithms execute correctly, based on a rock solid communication layer and world class introspection capabilities. We provide all the tools to deploy, develop and debug the most powerful robots on earth.

As a Senior Robotics Platform Software Engineer, you will help shape and implement our vision of a scalable, safe and high performing robotics platform. You will gather requirements from internal customers, architect the communication layer, node orchestration and lifecycle management as well as APIs to off-machine systems. The main focus will be on the design, implementation and maintenance of essential parts of the on-robot platform, contributing to open source projects where feasible. With your experience, you will provide guidance for junior and mid-level engineers in our organisation. 

What you'll do:

-

Collaborate closely with engineers from other teams to derive requirements and help to shape our robotics platform 

-

Design, build and maintain parts of the robotics platform, e.g. health monitoring and machine configuration management. Guide junior team members to support your endeavors

-

Monitor external dependencies and alternatives to assess potential issues or improvements

-

Influence, nurture and grow our engineering culture

-

Contribute upstream to open source software projects to close gaps in required functionality

What you need to know:

-

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

-

5+ years of hands-on experience in Software Engineering, Robotics Development or similar roles

-

Strong Software Engineering skills and solid experience with related tooling (e.g. clangd, cargo, pyrefly)

-

Strong programming skills in a systems language like C++ or Rust, Python is nice to have

-

Experience with middleware (iceoryx2, DDS, AUTOSAR Adaptive) and IDLs (FlatBuffers, Protobuf)

Bonus Qualifications:

Don't meet every requirement? We still want to hear from you. These are nice-to-haves, not dealbreakers:

-

Experience working on safety-critical systems and the respective software development processes

-

Experience in developing a production grade robotics system

-

Track record of open source contributions

-

Experience using Rust in a production environment

This is an opportunity to join a dynamic, multidisciplinary team and to be part of a company that is reshaping heavy construction.

Gravis is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team, and do not discriminate based on race, colour, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, gender expression, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.

Source: Gravis Robotics careers (Lever)

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