Robotics Autonomy Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton•San Diego, CA

5d•$77,600 - $176,000

About The Position

We are a robotics-focused engineering team at the intersection of autonomy, embedded systems, and the maritime domain. Our mission is to design, develop, and deploy advanced robotic platforms that operate in complex, contested, and unstructured ocean environments. We build perception, navigation, and control solutions for unmanned surface vessels (USVs), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and multi-agent maritime systems, enabling robust robotic capabilities that address real-world operational challenges at sea. Our work spans the full robotics stack—from hardware integration and sensor fusion to software architecture, field experimentation, and mission execution—with a rigorous focus on safety, reliability, and performance in dynamic maritime conditions. The role will contribute to the design, development, and integration of robotic systems for maritime applications. The candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team to build and validate software and hardware modules across the perception, navigation, and control stack—translating operational requirements into deployable robotic solutions. They will participate in the full development lifecycle, from architecture and prototyping through integration, field testing, and iterative refinement, collaborating closely with systems engineers, hardware leads, and mission stakeholders.

Requirements

3+ years of experience with robotics or systems engineering for equipment hardware, including circuits or sensors
Experience with Robot Operating Systems, including ROS or ROS 2, for sensor integration, communication, and system orchestration
Experience in C++ or Python for real-time robotics applications
Knowledge of autonomous systems concepts such as state estimation, localization, path planning, and feedback control
Knowledge of perception techniques including sensor fusion, object detection, and environmental mapping, such as SLAM, LiDAR, camera, or sonar
Ability to develop and maintain software for embedded Linux systems, including version control, CI/CD, packaging, containerization, and documentation
Ability to communicate complex technical topics effectively to a variety of audiences in written and verbal formats
Ability to obtain a Secret clearance
Bachelor’s degree in CS, EE, Computer Engineering, or Robotics Engineering

Nice To Haves

Experience developing architectures and algorithms for multi-agent, distributed collaborative autonomy
Experience with Docker image development, container deployment, and Git-based version control strategies
Experience with multi-agent coordination, swarm behaviors, collaborative autonomy frameworks, and simulation environments such as Gazebo, Isaac Sim, or marine-specific simulators, such as VRX, or UUV Simulator
Experience with maritime robotic platforms such as unmanned surface vessels (USVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), or unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs)
Knowledge of military strategy, operations, and tactics relevant to maritime autonomy
Knowledge of maritime-specific sensing modalities including sonar/acoustic, radar, GPS/INS, and DVL, such as Doppler Velocity Log
Ability to lead a technical team in strategy, project planning, and project execution
Ability to professionally interact with clients to understand their needs, recommend courses of action, and present or demonstrate results
Master’s degree in CS or Engineering preferred; Doctorate degree in CS or Engineering a plus

Responsibilities

Contribute to the design, development, and integration of robotic systems for maritime applications.
Work within a multidisciplinary team to build and validate software and hardware modules across the perception, navigation, and control stack.
Translate operational requirements into deployable robotic solutions.
Participate in the full development lifecycle, from architecture and prototyping through integration, field testing, and iterative refinement.
Collaborate closely with systems engineers, hardware leads, and mission stakeholders.