Senior Software Engineer - Platform

Location: Austin, TX

Department: Software Engineering

JOB SUMMARY

As a Senior Platform Engineer, your primary mission is to architect and evolve the core C++ build system that powers our robotics innovation. We are looking for an engineer to take our existing foundations and transform them into a high-performance, production-grade build ecosystem.  You will bridge the gap between low-level build mechanics and high-level deployability, ensuring that our robotics software moves from a developer’s brain to physical hardware with unparalleled velocity and reliability.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Build Platform Ownership

• Own the strategic roadmap for our C++ based build platform, maturing it from functional scripts into a robust, scalable, and highly optimized engine.
• Reduce developer feedback loops by implementing advanced caching, parallelization, and intelligent incremental builds.
• Architect and maintain high-performance environments for both native x86 development and ARM-based cross-compilation, ensuring parity and performance across all build targets.
• Ensure the build platform is resilient, reproducible, and treated with the same rigor as our robot’s mission-critical code.
• Proactively research and implement the best build technologies to solve the unique challenges of cross-compiling for robotics hardware and HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) environments.

Developer Experience & Automation

• Develop and maintain essential tooling and automation that simplifies and accelerates the entire development workflow, from local development to hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. 
• Architect the bridge between the build system and the robot, ensuring that artifacts are seamlessly packaged, versioned, and ready for deployment.
• Manage the C++ dependency ecosystem using tools like Conan, balancing developer flexibility with build reproducibility and stability. 
• Work directly with robotics engineers to understand their challenges and collaboratively develop effective, pragmatic solutions. 

System Reliability & Problem Solving

• Act as a key troubleshooter for complex, cross-domain issues spanning application code, build systems (CMake, ROS2), containerization, networking, and infrastructure.
• Ensure consistency and reproducibility across all environments, from a developer's laptop to our physical robots.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Experience with C++ and a strong command of its build ecosystem (e.g., CMake)
• Proven ability to design, build, and manage complex, automated CI/CD pipelines 
• Proficiency with containerization technologies 
• Expertise in scripting and automation using modern languages like Python or Bash.
• A strong command of the Linux operating system, including networking, file systems, permissions, resource management, and shell environments.
• A solid understanding of core networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP). 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with C++ package managers like Conan.
• Familiarity with robotics frameworks, particularly ROS2.
• Experience with build optimization and caching tools (e.g., ccache, sccache).

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in a DevOps, Software Engineering, or Build/Release Engineering role.
• A proven track record of supporting software development teams by building and maintaining reliable infrastructure and effective tooling.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen.
• Hearing and speech to communicate.