Senior Robotics Software Engineer

Clera

San Francisco, California, United StatesFull-time$185,000–$235,000Posted Oct 31, 2026

About the role

About the Role

Join a defense technology team building autonomous robotics systems. You will develop and debug production C++ software on physical hardware, working across sensor data, tracking, controls, and autonomy to support reliable field operation.

What You'll Do

Build and own end-to-end production C++ features across sensor processing, tracking, control, or autonomy.

Profile and improve software you own, including threading, process structure, latency, and timing.

Develop and maintain tests, CI/CD, and hardware-in-the-loop testing for robotics software.

Debug issues that arise on physical hardware, including during field use and testing.

Take part in regular field tests.

What We're Looking For

At least 4 years of hands-on robotics software engineering experience.

Production C++ experience on a physical robotic system, with software shipped for repeated use on hardware.

Experience owning features involving sensor data, tracking, control, or autonomy.

Fluency with real-time systems, including threading, latency, and timing analysis.

Experience building or maintaining CI/CD or hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Useful background includes ROS or ROS2, cameras, IMUs, encoders, gimbal or turret systems, sensor fusion, target tracking, and field failure debugging.

Defense, aerospace, or safety-critical software experience, or an active security clearance, is beneficial.

Must qualify as a U.S. Person for export control purposes.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary is $185,000 to $235,000 annually, plus equity. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

On-site, five days per week in San Francisco, California, with field test days included.

Responsibilities

  • Build and own production C++ features across sensor processing, tracking, control, and autonomy.
  • Profile and improve software performance, including threading, process structure, latency, and timing.
  • Develop and maintain tests, CI/CD, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
  • Debug robotics software on physical hardware during testing and field use.
  • Participate in regular field tests.

Qualifications

  • At least 4 years of hands-on robotics software engineering experience.
  • Production C++ experience on physical robotic systems, with software shipped for repeated hardware use.
  • Experience owning features involving sensor data, tracking, control, or autonomy.
  • Fluency with real-time systems, threading, latency, and timing analysis.
  • Experience building or maintaining CI/CD or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
  • Must qualify as a U.S. Person for export control purposes.

Benefits

  • Equity

Skills mentioned

C++RoboticsEmbedded SystemsReal-Time Operating SystemsConcurrencyMultithreadingSensor FusionCI/CDDebuggingPerformance Optimization

About Clera

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Technology11-50 employeesSan Francisco