Senior Robotics Engineer

FieldAI•Irvine, CA

1d•$70,000 - $200,000

About The Position

At FieldAI, we build autonomous robotic systems that operate in demanding, real-world environments where tight integration between hardware and software is critical. Weâre looking for a Senior Robotics Engineer to lead the design, implementation, and deployment of advanced control systems and collaborative behaviors for our autonomous vehicle fleet. In this role, you will serve as a key planning and controls expert, solving complex challenges involving operating in unstructured environments. You will own the evaluation and implementation of advanced control schemes, ensuring computationally constrained systems operate reliably across new and existing robotic platforms. Furthermore, you will drive the development of multi-agent operations and fleet coordination behaviors. This is a highly impactful role for an engineer with deep expertise in control theory and multi-agent autonomy who can translate advanced research into robust, field-ready solutions.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with a focus on planning, controls, or multi-agent systems; OR an MS degree in a related field with 3+ years of relevant industry experience.
Deep expertise in modern control theory, specifically with predictive and sampling-based control methodologies (such as MPC and MPPI), and vehicle dynamics modeling.
Proven experience designing, implementing, and testing multi-agent autonomy behaviors (e.g., convoying, formation control, or heterogeneous fleet coordination).
Hands-on experience deploying complex control and planning algorithms onto physical robots, rather than just in simulation.
Experience working with large-scale or off-road autonomous vehicles operating in unstructured, real-world environments.
Strong ability to design and implement computationally constrained control schemes tailored to the compute limitations of embedded robotic platforms.
Ability to verify, validate, and debug complex control architectures, overcoming system-level bottlenecks when adapting software to new vehicle platforms.
Strong ownership mindset with the ability to serve as a resident technical expert, bridging the gap between advanced autonomy research and reliable product deployment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with field robotics, off-road vehicles, or high-speed / safety-critical robotic systems.
Background in control theory, including classical and learning-based controllers.
Experience with low SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) robotic platforms.
Prior ownership of system integration or technical leadership for a robotic platform.
Experience mentoring junior engineers or leading integration efforts in small teams.
Familiarity with autonomy stacks, planning systems, or real-time robotics software architectures.
Knowledge of containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and modern DevOps practices.