Senior Software Engineer (Robotics & Intelligence)
Motivo Open · verified Oct 24, 2026 At a glance
Senior Software Engineering role at Motivo. Rancho Dominguez · full-time · $110,000–$130,000 base.
techroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Design and build software for autonomous robots on NVIDIA Jetson Orin, using ROS 2 and DDS
- Develop GPU-based detection pipelines for thermal fire watch and specialized acoustic signatures
- Connect 5G and LTE systems for low-delay HD video and dependable robot telemetry in difficult RF conditions
- Secure edge systems with NIST controls, encryption, TLS, secure boot, and protected communications
- Keep robot fleets reliable through A/B boot partitions, OTA updates, and Ansible deployments
What you bring
- At least eight years in embedded software, robotics, or autonomous systems
- A bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical discipline
- Hands-on deployment of machine-learning models and high-bandwidth sensing applications on edge devices
- Practical LTE or 5G modem integration, RF coexistence, NIST control implementation, and FIPS-validated cryptography
Who this fits
This is a senior individual-contributor role with technical architecture and lead-development responsibilities. It suits an engineer experienced in Linux-based hardware integration, robotics, edge AI, and secure connectivity. The role is based in Rancho Dominguez, California, and follows a Monday-through-Thursday, four-day, ten-hour work week.
From the employer
Build the Intelligence Behind Autonomous Systems at Motivo
Are you a high-level individual contributor with a mastery of robotics, embedded systems, and edge AI? Do you thrive on solving the "impossible" problems at the intersection of real-time sensing, 5G connectivity, and hardened cybersecurity?
Motivo is a premier product development firm where ambitious concepts become functional realities. We serve as the elite engineering engine for everything from stealth startups to Fortune 100 R&D labs. We are looking for a Senior Software Engineer to serve as a primary technical architect and lead developer for our intelligence controls for autonomous robotic systems.
The Role: Technical Lead & Systems Architect
At Motivo, a Senior Software Engineer isn't just a coder; you are the technical backbone of our most sophisticated robotic initiatives. You will own the software lifecycle of complex autonomous machines, moving from rapid prototyping to field-ready deployment.
In this role, you will:
- Architect Core Systems: Design and implement robust software architectures on NVIDIA Jetson Orin platforms using ROS 2 and DDS middleware.
- Drive AI Innovation: Develop and optimize GPU-accelerated pipelines for AI detection, including thermal imaging for fire watch and audio SDKs for specialized acoustic signature detection.
- Enable Global Connectivity: Own the integration of 5G/LTE stacks to ensure low-latency HD video streaming and reliable telemetry in challenging RF environments.
- Harden the Edge: Implement "security-by-design" following NIST SP 800-53/171 standards, including AES-256 encryption, TLS 1.3, and secure boot protocols.
- Ensure Fleet Reliability: Build and maintain the "safety net" for our robots, including A/B boot partitioning, robust OTA update mechanisms, and Ansible-driven deployments.
Technical Profile
We are looking for an engineer who is fluent in the nuances of hardware-software integration and thrives in a Linux-heavy environment:
- Compute: Expert-level knowledge of NVIDIA Jetson/ARM64 architectures and GPU optimization.
- Robotics: Deep experience with ROS 2, middleware tuning, and sensor fusion.
- Streaming/Video: Proficiency with GStreamer, RTSP, and WebRTC for complex video pipelines.
- Security & Ops: Experience with Ansible for automation and security tools like AIDE, Elastic Agent, or OSSEC.
- Languages: Mastery of C++ and Python (Modern C++ standards preferred).
Required Qualifications
- Experience: 8+ years of professional experience in embedded software, robotics, or autonomous systems.
- Edge Expertise: Proven track record of deploying ML models and high-bandwidth sensing applications to edge devices.
- Connectivity: Practical experience with LTE/5G modem integration and RF coexistence.
- Security Mastery: Familiarity implementing NIST cybersecurity controls and FIPS-validated cryptographic modules.
- Education: BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field (MS/PhD in Robotics is a major plus).
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: $110,000 - $130,000
Salary is dependent on experience, knowledge, and interview performance.
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