Staff Embedded Software Engineer, Robotics

Cobot
Santa Clara
On-site

Who this role is best for

Geared toward senior engineers with C++ expertise and experience in robotics, comfortable with cross-functional collaboration and full lifecycle ownership.

Best fit for

  • Senior engineers with 8+ years in embedded systems and proven leadership in code quality improvements
    — “8+ years of experience developing embedded or firmware software for complex hardware systems
  • Individuals with cross-team experience defining safe robot behavior
    — “Partner with engineering teams to define and validate safe and trustworthy robot behavior

Things to consider

  • U.S. work authorization is mandatory, with no mention of visa sponsorship
    — “U.S. work authorization required
  • Relocation stipend available but requires moving from outside 50-mile radius of Santa Clara
    — “We offer a relocation stipend for candidates living more than 50 miles away

How to stand out

  • Highlight full lifecycle projects in resume, emphasizing verification and field support
    — “Own software from requirements through integration, verification, release, and field support
  • Quantify C++ experience with recent embedded systems development examples
    — “Strong, recent hands-on experience programming in C++
  • Demonstrate leadership in architecture or testing improvements via case studies
    — “Lead root-cause investigations and drive improvements in architecture, testing, code quality
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Senior

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

What success looks like

  • reliable systems
  • cross-functional collaboration
  • technical leadership
Typical background
embedded softwarerobotics

Skills & requirements

Required

Embedded SoftwareC++RTOSDevice DriversDiagnostics

Preferred

Functional SafetyMicrocontrollers

Stack & domain

C++FirmwareDevice DriversProblem-solvingTeamworkRoboticsEmbedded Systems

About the role

Original posting from Cobot via Ashby

Collaborative Robotics is seeking a Staff Embedded Software Engineer to build the production embedded software that powers our robots.

In this role, you will work closely with hardware, developing firmware, device drivers, time-critical embedded software, diagnostics, and fault-handling systems. You will play a key part in shaping robot behavior, reliability, performance, and safety.

This is a hands-on technical leadership position. You will continue to write and review production-grade C++, drive key technical decisions, mentor fellow engineers, and collaborate closely with our Hardware, Systems, Controls, Safety and Test teams. Prior functional safety expertise is a plus, but not required.

Join us to reimagine the future of human-robot interaction.

Collaborative Robotics is a team of innovators dedicated to redefining the future of human-robot interaction. We are building a world where robots act as a trusted extension of your surroundings—robots that adapt and react to you, not the other way around.

This position is based onsite at our Santa Clara, CA headquarters. We offer a relocation stipend for candidates living more than 50 miles away.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design & Development: Design, implement, test, and maintain production embedded software using C++.
  • System Ownership: Develop firmware, device drivers, hardware interfaces, diagnostics, and fault-handling mechanisms.
  • Full Lifecycle Ownership: Own software from requirements through integration, verification, release, and field support.
  • System Reliability: Build reliable, time-critical systems that account for timing constraints, concurrency, resource limitations, edge cases, and hardware failures.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with engineering teams to define and validate safe and trustworthy robot behavior.
  • Technical Leadership: Lead root-cause investigations and drive improvements in architecture, testing, code quality, documentation, and release practices.
  • Mentorship: Provide technical leadership and mentorship across the embedded software team.

Minimum Qualifications

  • 8+ years of experience developing embedded or firmware software for complex hardware systems.
  • Strong, recent hands-on experience programming in C++.
  • Experience with microcontrollers or systems-on-chip, RTOS or embedded operating systems, device drivers, peripherals, and hardware bring-up.
  • Strong knowledge of interrupts, memory management, communication protocols, timing, concurrency, and embedded debugging.
  • Experience delivering software across the full development lifecycle.
  • Proven experience delivering software across the full development lifecycle.
  • Demonstrated technical leadership via design ownership, mentorship, or engineering process improvements.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a highly collaborative, team-oriented mindset.
  • Enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment.
  • Willingness to travel occasionally.
  • U.S. work authorization required.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Background in robotics, autonomous systems, automotive, aerospace, medical devices, industrial automation, or other high-reliability systems.
  • Familiarity with functional safety standards or methods such as IEC 61508, ISO 26262, ISO 13849, FMEA, FTA, HARA, or STPA.
  • Experience with embedded Linux, QNX, AUTOSAR, FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar environments.
  • Experience integrating sensors, actuators, motor controls, or distributed compute systems.
  • Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, CI/CD, diagnostics, field reliability, or incident investigation.

The base salary range for this position is $205,000 - $235,000 plus equity and comprehensive benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and experience level. The range reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position in the noted geographic area. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Cobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.

To all recruitment agencies: Collaborative Robotics does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our employees. Collaborative Robotics is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Cobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.

To all recruitment agencies: Collaborative Robotics does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our employees. Collaborative Robotics is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Source: Cobot careers (Ashby)

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