Software Engineer

Location: Rancho Dominguez, CA

Department: Software Engineering

About the role

We are looking for a hands-on Software Engineer. What does that even mean, and why should you consider working for us, you ask? After all, we’re not Facebook, Google, or Amazon. We don’t have hundreds of millions of active users. We’re also not Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, or L3, so you won’t get to work on projects with millions of lines of code with 5+ years to deliver.

Here’s why you might find us interesting:

• We build things that solve real world problems. We solve client opportunities using a smart balance between well-designed software and well-designed hardware. Our teams are multidisciplinary, so you’ll work alongside some of the best mechanical, electrical, and systems engineers in the business. Solutions come together in weeks to months.
• We’re a product development firm. Imagine contributing to 5+ unique projects per year. Sounds unbelievable? We do it all the time. Each project is an opportunity to solve unique design challenges and learn and grow in the process. They’re pretty cool projects, too! We have some examples on our website, but the most exciting ones we’re not even allowed to talk about yet!
• We offer a collaborative learning environment, and there are a lot of really smart people that work here. Want to follow in the footsteps of a PhD roboticist? What about learning more about the simulation of dynamic systems? How about learning distributed control algorithms that run on heterogeneous networks? We have a bunch of other generalist engineers on staff in a wide array of engineering disciplines.
• We emphasize outcomes over process. Each project defines the right amount of design rigor. Some things like source control are part of every project. Other things, like extensive test coverage, are warranted for some projects and not for others. Who decides the right amount of rigor? You do. We’re not going to fret over style guides unless it’s a good idea.

Qualifications

Good candidates will have many of these characteristics:

• BS degree or higher in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• One to two (1-2) years of applicable professional experience, or significant internship responsibility
• Strong ability to connect and communicate with clients and project teams
• Strength in at least one general-purpose, low-to-mid-level, compiled language (ex. C, C++, Go, Rust, etc.)
• Strength in at least one higher-level, object-oriented, interpreted or JIT-compiled language (ex. Python, Javascript/Typescript, Java/Kotlin)
• Comfortable in Linux-based operating systems, including on the command line/terminal
• Comfortable with a version control system (we use Git)
• Experience developing for embedded applications (microcontrollers like Arduino or STM32 and/or embedded Linux like Raspberry Pi)
• Experience developing for desktop applications (Linux, Windows, macOS)
• Interest in working on multi-disciplinary teams building robotic systems!
• Positive, solutions- and outcome-oriented attitude!

Ideal candidates may have some or many of these characteristics:

• Many or all of the above list, plus…
• Three or more years of directly applicable work experience
• Strong ability to translate application feature concepts into well-structured and well-implemented code
• Ability to divide up and delegate bigger problems into its constituent components
• Ability to architect complete applications and outline them visually with block diagrams
• Experience using 3rd party APIs and frameworks (UI, web, backend, elastic)
• Experience developing iOS and Android apps (cross-platform is best!)
• Experience developing server, cloud, or elastic services

Benefits

We’re convinced that the team and the projects are hands-down the best part of working at Motivo. To support that, we offer a solid benefits package including high-quality insurance, a 401(k) match, generous vacation time, and our Monday–Thursday 4/10 work week. We offer profit-sharing bonuses, which are tied to overall company performance, because we believe in winning together; we’re transparent about the company’s numbers, and when our hard work drives financial success, employees may share in the upside.

• Base Salary Range: $104,000 - $150,000
• Salary is dependent on experience, knowledge, and interview performance.

About the Company

About Motivo

Motivo is a project-based company delivering excellence in mechanical and electrical system design and prototype builds. We have a history in successfully taking concepts through to actual finished solutions. Our work spans a wide range of market segments including mobility/automotive, aerospace, robotics, and clean energy, to name a few. Every team member will experience a wide variety of challenging projects, offering rich opportunities for professional growth. We are passionate about solving complex engineering challenges, striving for excellence within every unique project constraint, and believe in having fun while we do it!