Staff Software Engineer - Federal

Who are We? Field AIis transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk-aware, reliable, and field-ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-based architectures, and are charting a new course, with already-globally-deployed solutions delivering real-world results and rapidly improving models through real-field applications. Learn more at https://fieldai.com. About the Job At FieldAI, we build autonomous robotic systems that operate in demanding, real-world environments where tight integration between hardware and software is critical. We’re looking for a Senior Software Engineer to support testing, deployment, and integration of wheeled robotic platforms across both federal and commercial programs As a Senior Software Engineer at Field AI, you’ll be at the forefront of bringing our autonomous systems to life in the real world, owning deployment, integration, and ongoing performance in the field. This role is equal parts engineering and problem-solving. You’ll work hands-on with both customers and our internal teams to ensure successful operations, rapidly incorporate field feedback to improve reliability and performance, and drive adoption so our systems become mission-critical from day one. If you thrive in fast-paced, high-impact environments and want to see your work directly enable the future of autonomy, this is the role where you’ll make it happen. What You’ll Get To Do Drive strategic integration, debugging, and rapid capability development while providing essential software support Build robust utilities and tools to facilitate integration and automated testing for system software builds Provide high-level technical expertise and analytical insights to advance the development of robust software architectures What You Have PhD degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field or MS degree in a related field with 2+ years of industry or applied research Proven expertise in software engineering across the full program lifecycle, with a focus on early-stage system design and development. Experience/Familiarity with robotics middleware such as ROS / ROS 2 or similar distributed robotics software systems Experience/Familiarity with distributed systems (multiple nodes, real-time comms) Experience/Familiarity with embedded systems (C/C++ on constrained hardware) Ability to work effectively across adjacent domains, including software, electronics, networking, and mechanical interfaces Proven track record managing complex programs with multiple dependencies in agile/hybrid frameworks Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to executives and diverse audiences Strong analytical capabilities, with experience in financial modeling, ROI analysis, and tracking KPIs Ability to thrive in fast‑paced, high‑growth startup environments; proactive, adaptable, resilient The Extras That Set You Apart Experience deploying, operating, or maintaining mission-critical systems in real-world environments. Experience using Jira or Wrike or Confluence or other program management software tools Ability to work directly with customers in high-stakes, fast-paced settings, translating needs into technical solutions. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical users. Willingness to travel and work on-site with customers as needed. This position is for our FieldAI Federal Team.  This team works on projects connected to the U.S. government which requires U.S. Person eligibility.  A U.S. Person as defined by 22 C.F.R  §120.62 includes U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) refugee or asylee.