
Robotics Software Engineer
Gander Robotics
Visa & sponsorship
- US citizenship required. In the US that usually comes with federal, defense or clearance-related work — a legal requirement, not employer policy. Not open to non-citizens.
- A US security clearance is required, which effectively means citizens only.
Job description
Robotics Software Engineer
Gander Robotics is building autonomous maritime systems for search and rescue, defense, and other high-consequence missions. We’re looking for a Robotics Software Engineer to help build the software that makes our autonomous vehicles think, navigate, communicate, and operate in the real world.
This is a hands-on engineering role working across autonomy, controls, sensing, embedded systems, and operator interfaces. You’ll write software in C++ and Python
, integrate it with real hardware, and see your work tested in the field.
What You’ll Do
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Develop and integrate software for autonomous underwater and surface vehicles
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Build autonomy behaviors, mission planning, state machines, and system-level controllers
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Integrate sensors, actuators, communications systems, and other vehicle hardware
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Develop operator interfaces and tools for mission planning, deployment, and vehicle control
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Build and test software on embedded and single-board computers
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Debug problems across software, electronics, communications, and physical hardware
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Participate in vehicle integration, field testing, and iterative development
Requirements
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U.S. CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED
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Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science
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Strong programming skills in C++ and Python
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Strong understanding of software engineering fundamentals, algorithms, data structures, and software architecture
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Experience developing software in Linux environments
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Familiarity with Git and modern software development workflows
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Strong interest in robotics, autonomous systems, and embedded systems
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Comfortable working directly with sensors, actuators, hardware interfaces, and real-world robotic systems
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Ability to work independently and solve underspecified technical problems
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Effective use of modern AI coding tools while maintaining a strong understanding of the architecture, code, and systems you ship
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Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance
Relevant Technical Experience
Experience in several of the following areas is highly desirable:
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Modern C++, CMake, Python, Linux, and embedded computing
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MOOS-IvP or other robotics/autonomy middleware
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Behavior-based or hierarchical autonomy
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Guidance, navigation, and control systems
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Mission planning and mission specification
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Sensor fusion and estimation
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GNSS, inertial, acoustic, sonar, or imaging sensors
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Serial, TCP/IP, and other hardware communication protocols
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Device drivers and hardware/software integration
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Map-based interfaces, web applications, desktop GUIs, or command-line tools
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Cross-compiling and deploying software to single-board or embedded computers
Bonus Experience
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Marine robotics, AUVs, UUVs, USVs, or other field robotics
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Simulation and sim-to-real development
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RF or acoustic communications
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TAK / ATAK ecosystem
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Existing U.S. security clearance
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Experience conducting field testing of robotic or autonomous systems
What to Expect
Gander Robotics is a small, fast-moving team building hardware and software that gets tested in the real world. You’ll have significant ownership over your work and will regularly move between software development, vehicle integration, testing, and field operations.