Hiring: Senior Robotics Controls Engineer Company: Spectrum Search Location: San Francisco, CA Job Posted Time: 2026-09-17 10:03:00 Employment Type: Full-time / Remote Target Skills & Keywords : C++, Linux, NumPy, Python, SciPy About the job Required Skills: •This is a hands-on engineering role focused on autonomous vehicle controls, localisation, state estimation and navigation. You will work directly with production systems and physical vehicles, solving controls challenges across varying terrain, payloads and operating conditions. •The position suits an engineer who combines strong controls fundamentals with practical experience deploying robotics or autonomous vehicle systems outside of research environments. •Design, implement and tune the core control systems used by autonomous heavy vehicles. The work spans model predictive control (MPC), path following, longitudinal and lateral control, localisation and state estimation. •Also analyse vehicle performance through field testing and log replay, working closely with perception, planning and hardware engineers to take systems from development through to production deployment. •Design, implement and tune MPC and PID control algorithms for autonomous vehicles •Develop localisation and state estimation pipelines using GPS/RTK, IMU and other sensor inputs •Build robust sensor fusion approaches using Kalman filters, EKF and UKF •Develop lateral and longitudinal control, steering and path-following systems Qualifications: •Strong practical experience in robotics controls engineering and production autonomous systems •Applied hands-on capability in Robot Operating System (ROS) and Linux •Practical knowledge of model predictive control and other modern control techniques •Strong Python and C++ engineering skills •In-depth knowledge of state estimation, Kalman filtering and sensor fusion •Demonstrated capacity to translate controls theory into reliable production software •Background in autonomous vehicles, heavy equipment or advanced robotics •Advanced technical study or equivalent depth of expertise in controls, robotics, mechanical, aerospace or electrical engineering •This is a full-time, on-site position based in San Francisco, requiring five days per week on site. Relocation support is available, and the company is open to eligible visa transfers and sponsorship. The role also involves periodic travel of up to 15% for field deployment, testing and tuning. Compensation: •Flexible work environment (work from home / hybrid options) Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!