Robotics Validation & Release Engineer

AES•Arlington, VA

6d•$145,000 - $181,050•Hybrid

About The Position

The AES Corporation is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Robotics Validation & Release Engineer to join their team. This role will lead the definition and execution of the end-to-end validation and release strategy for the software powering Maximo, their solar module installation robotic system. This includes testing and validation of perception, autonomy, controls, safety, and system services before deployment to production robots on active construction sites. The engineer will establish clear release criteria, quality gates, and verification and validation plans. They will be accountable for executing tests and validation activities across simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, lab systems, and field environments, ensuring performance, reliability, and safety requirements are met. The role involves troubleshooting complex challenges, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring Maximo’s software is integrated, verified, and validated before field deployment. The successful candidate will translate product-level requirements into structured validation plans, release criteria, and repeatable deployment processes for a rugged outdoor robotic platform. This individual will be entrepreneurial, mission-driven, and responsible for progressing, developing, and executing the validation and release roadmap for the solar module installation robotic system. They will own the definition of release criteria and quality gates, validate robotics solutions before deployment, and ensure the system meets requirements and performance targets. Additionally, they will be responsible for improving documentation, strengthening validation processes, and maintaining disciplined development and release practices. A strong candidate will have a solid technical understanding of robotics system architecture, development, and validation practices, combined with hands-on experience with robotics stacks such as ROS 2, C++, real-time communication, mobility, and sensor fusion for autonomous mobile systems. This position will work collaboratively across the Maximo team, external industry partners, and AES teams, including engineering, business development, construction, finance, supply chain, and strategy.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field.
6+ years of work experience in robotics system.
Proven track record owning releases for systems that include embedded/real-time components and hardware interfaces.
Hands-on experience with automated testing frameworks, CI/CD, and test infrastructure (e.g., Python tooling, Docker, build systems).
Experience designing test plans and validation strategies for autonomy/robotics or safety-critical systems is strongly preferred.
Strong debugging skills across software/hardware boundaries; ability to reproduce and isolate field issues systematically.
Comfort with uncertainty and fast iteration; ability to balance speed and rigor while maintaining high quality standards.
Strong theoretical foundation in robotics software and system architecture.
Strong programming skills in languages such as C++, Python
Proficiency in ROS2 and experience with ROS hardware integration
Experience with robotics simulation and digital twins.
Experience with middleware and networking considerations (DDS, QoS, latency/jitter, time synchronization) in distributed robotic systems.
Proven track record of successfully delivering complex robotics systems to market
Knowledge of robotics platforms and sensor systems.
Founder’s mentality: Entrepreneurial passion for getting things done and a “make it happen” attitude with an intellectual curiosity to seek new opportunities.
Skill and Behavior: Capability to work dynamically and collaboratively across multiple teams in a fast-paced and technical business environment with minimal supervision. Excellent communication skills. Results-oriented, “can-do” attitude, and “get things done” mentality; comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity; no compromise on attention to quality and details.
Technology fluency: Demonstrated ability to understand solar engineering and technology concepts, question assumptions, and make informed product and technology decisions. Technical understanding of automation, robotics, computer vision, machine learning and/or artificial intelligence, is a plus.

Responsibilities

Define validation strategy and test coverage expectations across unit, integration, system, regression, and endurance testing
Own the software release process end-to-end, from release planning through deployment and post-release verification.
Build and maintain a release readiness framework (entry/exit criteria, go/no-go checklists, sign-offs, and rollback plans).
Develop and maintain CI pipelines and automated regression suites; ensure results are visible, actionable, and trusted.
Coordinate system-level verification across simulation, HIL, lab rigs, and field test robots; standardize test environments.
Establish performance benchmarks and acceptance thresholds for critical behaviors (accuracy, latency, stability, uptime, safety).
Partner with engineering and product leads to translate product requirements into testable acceptance criteria and validation plans.
Own release documentation including release notes, known issues, validation reports, and deployment playbooks.
Ensure safe deployment practices and alignment with applicable safety standards and operational constraints in the field.
Establish verification and validation practices: architecture reviews, test plans, performance benchmarks, and traceability from requirements to tests.
Design, develop, implement and troubleshoot robotics systems for various components, including robotics, servomotors, variety of automation sensors, vision systems, battery management and safety components.
Ensure seamless integration of robotic systems with other components and systems.
Conduct rigorous testing and validation of robotics systems to meet performance and safety requirements
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful integration of robotics solutions into complex systems.
Build scenario libraries (terrain/slope, occlusions, lighting, sensor noise) + acceptance metrics
Simulation-to-field correlation (validate sensor models vs real logs)
Support transition from simulation to real-world testing by creating test procedures, instrumentation, and debugging workflows; help close gaps between simulation and field
Develop and maintain robotic system architecture, ensuring continuous improvement and innovation.
Design, develop and implement advanced algorithms for real-time tasks such as trajectory generation, motion control, robotics motion, and system optimization.
Research, develop, implement, and test new capabilities for industrial robotics