Robotics Software Engineer (ROS 2 Control Stack & Diagnostics)

American Droid is building a new generation of American-made robotic systems for defense and civilian applications. We are at the very beginning of our growth curve—and we are looking for builders. This is an opportunity to join the ground floor of a start-up creating robotic hands and tele-operated manipulation systems.

As one of the first software engineers on the team, you won’t just write code—you will shape the product, architect the software, define engineering culture, and help create technologies that will become the backbone of our Phase III deployments and future product lines. Your work will enable high-precision robotic manipulation and haptic teleoperation for public service and military applications.

There is no hand-holding here. You will be forging the path, defining new capabilities, shaping products, and building technologies that will become the foundation of future deployments and partner integrations.

If you want to build something that matters, influence major design decisions, and leave your fingerprints on the foundation of an emerging robotics company, this is that role.

Control Architecture & ROS 2 Integration

Summary

You will design and implement the foundational ROS 2/C control software for our robotic hand. This includes joint control nodes, hardware interfaces, diagnostics, and system-level monitoring. You will enable high-level commands such as joint positioning, sensor queries, soft limits, and safe transitions. Your work will serve as the backbone for future SDK development and integration with partner robotic platforms.

Responsibilities

• Design, own, and drive the ROS 2 control stack for the robotic hand from the ground up.
• Build hardware interface layers that connect embedded firmware to ROS 2 controllers.
• Develop joint-level controllers (position, velocity, force) for multi-DOF synchronized motion.
• Define motion constraints, safety states, error recovery logic, and soft limits.
• Architect clean APIs and messaging interfaces that will evolve into a public-facing SDK.
• Implement real-time health monitoring, motor/thermal diagnostics, and system-level analytics.
• Build simulation and testing frameworks to validate behavior before hardware integration.
• Collaborate closely with firmware and mechanical teams, solving problems together in real time.
• Make foundational technical decisions that will influence the next 5–10 years of the platform.

Teleoperation & Haptic Integration

Summary

You will integrate haptic gloves into the robotic hand’s control stack to enable natural, intuitive teleoperation. You will map glove kinematics into robotic joint commands, tune algorithms for precision manipulation, and implement low-latency feedback pathways.

Responsibilities

• Integrate haptic gloves using the C API for bidirectional motion haptics.
• Develop mapping algorithms that translate human hand motion into robotic actuation.
• Implement low-latency tactile feedback pathways from hand sensors to glove actuators.
• Validate and refine teleoperation behaviors in simulation before hardware testing.
• Support demo systems for program milestones, partners, and field testing.

Leadership, Influence & Team Building

Summary

This role is a technical pathfinder. You will set the tone, practice, and technological direction. You will mentor engineers as we grow the team and help shape a culture rooted in innovation and mission-driven engineering.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical direction in ROS 2, control systems, and system integration.
• Mentor junior and apprentice engineers—teaching through example, not bureaucracy.
• Establish coding standards, review practices, and architectural patterns.
• Influence product strategy alongside firmware, mechanical, and operations leaders.
• Help build the early engineering identity of American Droid.

Required Qualifications

• 3–6 years of robotics software development experience.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or related field.
• Strong proficiency in ROS 2 and modern C (C 14/17/20).
• Experience developing robotic controllers for multi-axis or articulated systems.
• Familiarity with kinematics, sensor integration, or motion control algorithms.
• Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, debugging, and real-time data handling.
• Strong experience with diagnostics and system health monitoring.
• Self-directed, resourceful, and comfortable owning major components independently.
• Desire to build, innovate, and operate in a fast-moving early-stage environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background with robotic hands, grippers, arms, or multi-DOF manipulation systems.
• Experience developing SDKs or high-level API layers.
• Knowledge of DDS or real-time communication frameworks.
• ROS 2 simulation experience (Gazebo, Isaac, Ignition).
• Experience with haptics, teleoperation, or motion mapping.
• Industrial, defense, or medical robotics experience.
• Strong interest in building American manufacturing and next-gen robotics capabilities.

The Mindset We’re Looking For

• Mission Driven. You are dedicated to building American-made robotic solutions that serve our nation and support our communities.
• Independent & Solution Focused: You have ideas and thrive on figuring hard things out.
• Hands-on: You’d rather fix it on the bench than talk about it in a meeting.
• Action-Oriented Visionary: You see how today’s prototype becomes tomorrow’s deployable robot and execute the work to make that vision happen.

Why Join American Droid?

• You’ll be part of something bigger: building a domestic robotics capability for the U.S.
• You’ll be part of the technical team from the start, shaping the company’s first products and engineering culture.
• You’ll have ownership over real systems that will serve national defense and public service missions.

Other Information

As robotics start-up, we are building from the ground up. Current compensation is a starting point, and benefits are not yet established — but we’re creating something bigger: a company that designs and builds leading American-made robotic systems for real-world missions.

As we grow, compensation, benefits, and opportunity grow with us.

Full-time position in New Bern, NC (less than 2 hours from Raleigh, NC). On-site a few days per week, with flexible remote work allowed only within North Carolina.  

U.S. citizens only. Must be eligible for a U.S. Government security clearance and comply with ITAR/EAR export control requirements.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

No calls or agencies please.