Senior Software Engineer / Robotics & AI Integration / Hybrid Wilmington, MA

Full-time, onsite 2–3 days per week in Wilmington, MA.

About the role

Own the integration layer between AI/ML models and the physical systems they control. This is a full-stack position spanning industrial fieldbus communication, real-time control loops, and software interfaces that deploy trained models into real-world environments. You will collaborate directly with Machine Learning Engineers, hardware teams, and mechanical teams to ensure the physical system tolerates the integration.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain the software bridge between AI/ML models and industrial robotic systems.
• Interface with industrial robot controllers (FANUC, KUKA, ABB, Universal Robots, Yaskawa/Motoman, or equivalent).
• Develop and debug real-time control loops using real-time Linux (PREEMPT_RT or Xenomai) or an RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, QNX).
• Implement and troubleshoot industrial fieldbus protocols (EtherCAT, CANopen, Modbus, Profinet).
• Debug communication failures at the signal level (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, GPIO).
• Measure and bound latency in deterministic control systems.
• Isolate root causes of failures that may span software, firmware, hardware, or their interfaces.
• Apply software engineering fundamentals—Git, code review, unit/integration testing, CI/CD—to systems code.
• Allocate 80% of time to hands-on development and 20% to team collaboration.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in systems or robotics software engineering.
• Strong proficiency in C and C++.
• Python for tooling, scripting, and test automation.
• Hands-on experience with ROS / ROS 2.
• Working knowledge of robot coordinate frames, kinematics, and end-of-arm tooling interfaces.
• Practical experience implementing at least one industrial fieldbus protocol (EtherCAT, CANopen, Modbus, Profinet).
• Working knowledge of embedded interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, GPIO) and debugging communication failures at the signal level.
• Experience with real-time Linux (PREEMPT_RT or Xenomai) or an RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, QNX) for deterministic control.
• Solid fundamentals in software engineering, including Git, code review, unit/integration testing, and CI/CD applied to systems code.

Nice to have

• Working knowledge of motion control concepts.
• Exposure to simulation and digital twin environments.
• Experience in a startup or small-team environment where you own architecture decisions and build tooling and process alongside the product.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Vacation time.
• Stock options.