Senior Robotics Engineer
About LightSpeed
LightSpeed Build Technologies is revolutionizing the construction industry through AI-powered robotics. Our flagship systems—BRUTE for automated wall panel manufacturing and DEX for on-site collaborative construction—are addressing the global housing crisis by delivering unprecedented speed, precision, and affordability in homebuilding.
Position Overview
As a Senior Robotics Engineer, you will design, develop, and deploy the core robotic control systems powering LightSpeed’s construction automation platforms. You will work hands-on with industrial robots, developing motion planning algorithms, real-time control software, and sensor integration systems that enable our BRUTE and DEX platforms to achieve sub-millimeter precision in demanding construction environments. This role demands deep robotics expertise, strong software skills, and the ability to bridge the gap between simulation and real-world deployment.
What you'll work on
- Robotics Software Development
- Develop and optimize ROS2-based control architectures for multi-robot coordination in manufacturing cells
- Implement motion planning and trajectory optimization using MoveIt2 and custom planners for complex assembly tasks
- Design real-time pose synchronization systems for coordinated multi-robot operations
- Build and maintain robot driver interfaces for Hyundai industrial robots and collaborative robot arms
- Build collision avoidance and safety monitoring systems for human-robot collaborative environments
- Simulation & Validation
- Build high-fidelity simulation environments using MuJoCo, IsaacSIM, and Gazebo for system validation before deployment
- Create digital twin frameworks linking physical robot cells to simulation models for predictive analysis
- Create automated testing pipelines for robotics software using hardware-in-the-loop simulation
- Validate control algorithms in simulation before deploying to production robot cells
- Sensor Integration & Perception
- Integrate and calibrate sensor systems including LIDAR, depth cameras, force/torque sensors, and encoders
- Develop sensor fusion algorithms for precise robot localization and workpiece tracking
- Implement real-time quality monitoring using sensor feedback during automated assembly operations
- Design calibration procedures and drift compensation for production environments
- System Integration & Deployment
- Deploy robotic control systems to production cells and troubleshoot field issues
- Integrate robot control with LightSpeed Overwatch monitoring platform via Python/FastAPI
- Optimize robot cycle times, path planning, and operational efficiency in production
- Support scaling from current cell deployments to multi-site operations
Required Qualifications
- Core Robotics Expertise
- 5+ years of hands-on robotics engineering with industrial or collaborative robot systems
- Deep proficiency in ROS2 architecture, node lifecycle management, and real-time communication patterns
- Hands-on experience with MoveIt2 or MoveIt Pro for motion planning and manipulation
- Strong understanding of robot kinematics, dynamics, and control theory
- Experience with physics-based robotics simulators: MuJoCo, IsaacSIM, or Gazebo
- Software Development
- Strong programming in Python and C++ for real-time robotics applications
- Experience with real-time operating systems and deterministic control loops
- Proficiency with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and modern development workflows
- Understanding of industrial networking protocols: EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP
Preferred Qualifications
- MS or PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- Experience with industrial platforms: Hyundai, FANUC, ABB, KUKA, or Universal Robots
- Background in construction technology, automated manufacturing, or prefabrication
- Experience with real-time Linux (PREEMPT_RT) and low-latency control systems
- Contributions to open-source robotics projects: ROS2, MoveIt, or related
- Published research or patents in robotics, motion planning, or control systems