Job description

FieldAI ’s Irvine team is where embodied AI meets real robots, real sensors, and real field deployments. Based in the heart of Southern California’s robotics ecosystem, we build risk-aware, reliable, field-ready AI systems that solve the hardest problems in robotics and unlock the full potential of embodied intelligence. If you want your work to ship, get tested on hardware, and improve through real deployments, Irvine is the place. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-only architectures, combining rigorous engineering with learning systems proven in globally deployed solutions that deliver results today and get better every time our robots run in the field. Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk-aware, reliable, and field-ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-based architectures, and are charting a new course, with already-globally-deployed solutions delivering real-world results and rapidly improving models through real-field applications. About The Job Field AI is building the future of autonomy—from rugged terrain to real-world deployment. We’re on a mission to develop intelligent, adaptable robotic systems that operate beyond simulation and thrive in unpredictable environments. As our Robotics Software Engineer – Robot Integrations, you’ll bring new robotic platforms into our software stack and take them from first power-on to field-ready, building everything from drivers and API integrations to the low level behaviors that make a robot truly autonomous. You’ll be part of a deeply technical team advancing real-world robotic capabilities through cutting-edge research, simulation tools, and field validation. If working hands on with quadrupeds, humanoids, and wheeled robots across a wide variety of problems excites you, and you want to work where your code hits the ground (literally)—this is your role. This is Field AI. What You'll Get To Do Bring up and integrate new robotic platforms into Field AI’s software stack, including legged, wheeled-legged, wheeled, and humanoid systems Be the first to get a new robot moving under Field AI autonomy, from initial bring-up to its first autonomous mission in the field Develop and maintain robot drivers and interfaces for sensing, state, command, and control, working across vendor APIs and SDKs, middleware, and internal abstractions Implement low level behaviors that platforms are missing out of the box, such as docking and charging, stand up and recovery, mode switching, and safe stop handling Implement hardware safety interfaces on each platform, such as emergency stop and safe stop paths, so the safety layer can act on any robot Write the onboard software that runs on the robot’s compute, from real time command loops and state publishing to health monitoring and diagnostics Implement and adapt planning, locomotion, and control algorithms on new platforms, such as porting a locomotion controller to a new legged robot or fitting our navigation stack to a new platform Tune control and command paths on each platform to improve stability, responsiveness, and motion quality Debug issues that cross software, networking, timing, hardware communication, and system configuration boundaries Support new projects and robots as they come in, adapting quickly to unfamiliar hardware, APIs, and requirements Build reusable integration patterns, diagnostics, and tooling that make adding the next robot faster and more reliable Partner with hardware and software platform teams through bring-up, validation, bench testing, and full robot trials in the lab and in the field What You Have Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field Hands-on experience working with real robotic systems through industry, research, or substantial project work Solid software engineering skills in C++ and Python in Linux-based environments Familiarity with robotics middleware such as ROS/ROS 2 Understanding of robot interfaces across sensing, state estimation, actuation, and control Comfort debugging real-world system issues involving networking, timing, hardware communication, and software integration Willingness to work across adjacent domains, including software, electronics, networking, and mechanical interfaces The Extras That Set You Apart Experience integrating quadruped, humanoid, or wheeled platforms using vendor SDKs (for example Boston Dynamics Spot, Unitree, ANYbotics, or similar) Experience writing or maintaining robot drivers, SDK wrappers, or hardware abstraction layers Experience with communication interfaces and protocols such as CAN, EtherCAT, serial, and UDP/TCP. Experience implementing robot behaviors such as docking, charging, recovery, or payload control Familiarity with control tuning and performance profiling on physical robots Exposure to calibration, time synchronization, diagnostics, and deployment tooling for robotic platforms Familiarity with simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, or regression testing pipeline Our salary range is generous and we take into consideration an individual’s background and experience in determining final salary; base pay offered may vary considerably depending on geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Why Join Field AI? We are solving one of the world’s most complex challenges: deploying robots in unstructured, previously unknown environments. Our Field Foundational Models™ set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring our approach is explainable and safe for deployment. You will have the opportunity to work with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. With a decade-long track record of deploying solutions in the field , winning DARPA challenge segments, and bringing expertise from organizations like DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self-Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, we are set to achieve our ambitious goals. Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution To tackle such ambitious challenges, we need a team as unique as our vision — innovators who go beyond conventional methods and are eager to tackle tough, uncharted questions. We’re seeking individuals who challenge the status quo, dive into uncharted territory, and bring interdisciplinary expertise. Our team requires not only top AI talent but also exceptional software developers, engineers, product designers, field deployment experts, and communicators. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status. Our salary range is generous and we consider each individual’s background and experience when determining final compensation. Base pay may vary based on role scope, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and the Irvine, California market. Why Join FieldAI in Irvine? In Irvine, you will work where the robots are. Our local team builds and tests systems on real hardware with real sensors, then ships them to operate in unstructured, previously unknown environments around the world. We are solving one of robotics’ hardest challenges: reliable deployment outside the lab. Our Field Foundational Models™ raise the bar for perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, with an emphasis on explainability and safety for real-world use. You will collaborate with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. We bring deep experience from organizations such as DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, along with a track record of field deployments and strong performance in DARPA challenge segments. Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution We are looking for builders who want their work to leave the whiteboard and show up on robots. If you enjoy tackling tough, uncharted questions and working across disciplines, you will find your people here. Our teams span AI, software, robotics engineering, product, field deployment, and technical communication, all focused on shipping systems that perform in the real world. Our headquarters is in Irvine, and we partner closely with teams there as well as colleagues across the US and around the world. Join us in Southern California and help define what dependable, field-ready autonomy looks like. We value diverse perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We evaluate candidates and employees based on merit, qualifications, and performance, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

Requirements

Must-haves

What You'll Get To Do
Bring up and integrate new robotic platforms into Field AI’s software stack, including legged, wheeled-legged, wheeled, and humanoid systems
Be the first to get a new robot moving under Field AI autonomy, from initial bring-up to its first autonomous mission in the field
Develop and maintain robot drivers and interfaces for sensing, state, command, and control, working across vendor APIs and SDKs, middleware, and internal abstractions
Implement low level behaviors that platforms are missing out of the box, such as docking and charging, stand up and recovery, mode switching, and safe stop handling
Implement hardware safety interfaces on each platform, such as emergency stop and safe stop paths, so the safety layer can act on any robot
Write the onboard software that runs on the robot’s compute, from real time command loops and state publishing to health monitoring and diagnostics
Implement and adapt planning, locomotion, and control algorithms on new platforms, such as porting a locomotion controller to a new legged robot or fitting our navigation stack to a new platform
Tune control and command paths on each platform to improve stability, responsiveness, and motion quality
Debug issues that cross software, networking, timing, hardware communication, and system configuration boundaries
Support new projects and robots as they come in, adapting quickly to unfamiliar hardware, APIs, and requirements
Build reusable integration patterns, diagnostics, and tooling that make adding the next robot faster and more reliable
Partner with hardware and software platform teams through bring-up, validation, bench testing, and full robot trials in the lab and in the field
What You Have
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
Hands-on experience working with real robotic systems through industry, research, or substantial project work
Solid software engineering skills in C++ and Python in Linux-based environments
Familiarity with robotics middleware such as ROS/ROS 2
Understanding of robot interfaces across sensing, state estimation, actuation, and control
Comfort debugging real-world system issues involving networking, timing, hardware communication, and software integration
Willingness to work across adjacent domains, including software, electronics, networking, and mechanical interfaces
The Extras That Set You Apart
Experience integrating quadruped, humanoid, or wheeled platforms using vendor SDKs (for example Boston Dynamics Spot, Unitree, ANYbotics, or similar)
Experience writing or maintaining robot drivers, SDK wrappers, or hardware abstraction layers

Nice-to-haves

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Platform: lever
Effort: quick

Benefits

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