Apptronik is building robots for the real world to improve human quality of life and to help solve the ever-increasing labor shortage problem. Our team has been building some of the most advanced robots on the planet for years, dating back to the DARPA Robotics Challenge. We apply our expertise across the full robotics stack to some of the most important and impactful problems our society faces, and expect our products and technology to change the world for the better. We value passion, creativity, and collaboration to help us overcome existing technological barriers in the industry to create truly innovative products.

You will join a team developing state-of-the-art general-purpose robots designed to operate in human spaces and with human tools. It is designed to work alongside humans, mobilize to human spaces, and manipulate the world around it.

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking an experienced Head of Software and AI Leader with proven capabilities who has deployed robotic systems at scale to join the Next-Gen Robotic Systems team. You will build a group focused on deploying AI for mobile manipulation tasks, both indoors and outdoors. You will guide the architectural design of many elements of our software stack, particularly perception, grasp synthesis, data collection, simulation, and fleet management. To support marketing and fundraising activities, you will create compelling AI demos. You will contribute to the AI product roadmap for Next-Gen Systems. You will be the subject matter expert who keeps our team up-to-date on advances in the field and participates in conferences and tradeshows showcasing these capabilities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Develop a strategic roadmap for AI capabilities.
Design prototype mobile manipulation products.
Deliver production-grade robot manipulation products.
Build a team to support you.
Use physics-based simulation to show roadmap capabilities for the manipulator in support of sales, marketing, and investor relations activities.
Deliver reliable software through code reviews, continuous integration, and automated testing.
Maintain comprehensive and accurate architecture and design documentation.
Educate our team on the latest AI technologies related to perception, motion planning, and object manipulation.
Lead the deployment of flexible perception and navigation technologies.
Design interfaces and data models to ingest live robot data.
Evaluate market and technical risks for robotic products and applications in logistics, construction, service and manufacturing.
Represent and lead with Apptronik's core values: CHIPC - Curiosity, Humility, Integrity, Passion, Creativity

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

Experience with systems-level design, including modern AI
C++ in a Linux development environment, with prior demonstrated ability to:
- Translate complex theoretical concepts and algorithms into practical, efficient, and bug-free software implementations
- Perform on a fast-paced software development team using standard CI tools like Git while following rigorous documentation and testing standards
Familiarity with Python
Field robot experience, ideally for outdoor manipulation use cases
Experience with various remote sensing technologies, including calibration and deployment
Data ingestion for AI training and deployment, preferably including ROS data streams
Engineering team leadership
Physics-based robot simulation, preferably IsaacSim
Design and deployment of engineering products
Excellent presentation and documentation skills
(Preferred) Technology startup experience

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Graduate degree in Robotics, Computer Science, or Electrical/Mechanical Engineering
15+ years of relevant industry experience

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
Hearing and speech to communicate

*This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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Head of Software - Next-Gen Robotics Systems

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