Principal Robotics Engineer

ARA Career • San Antonio, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

ARA is seeking a highly skilled and innovative principal robotics engineer to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in C++ development coupled with experience in robotics. This role involves developing robust C++ software for virtual simulation. This is an on-site position located in San Antonio, TX.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 12+ years of experience. Advanced degree may serve in partial fulfillment of the experience requirement.
• Expert-level proficiency in modern C++ (C++11/14/17 or higher) for embedded and real-time systems.
• Demonstrated experience in robotics software development, including motion planning, perception, and control systems.
• Experience developing or working with simulation environments (e.g., Gazebo, Unity, Unreal Engine) for robotics applications.
• Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills to diagnose issues across complex hardware and software systems.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Candidates selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with unmanned Navy systems.
• Portfolio showcasing hands-on projects involving C++ programming, robotics, and PCB design.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize high-performance, real-time C++ code for embedded systems, robotics control, and simulation infrastructure.
• Create, maintain, and optimize virtual models and simulation environments to test, validate, and refine robotic systems and algorithms before physical deployment.
• Develop software frameworks (e.g., ROS/ROS2) and algorithms for controlling and integrating various robotic subsystems, including sensors, motor controllers, and actuators.
• Analyze data from both simulations and physical hardware to optimize performance and debug system behavior.

Benefits

• ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners.
• Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees