Robotics Software Engineer

About PowerusPowerus is building a next-generation American autonomous systems platform designed to move, protect, and sustain critical assets in high-consequence environments. The company combines advanced autonomy, manufacturing capability, operational expertise, and strategic acquisitions to support defense, national security, critical infrastructure, and commercial operations globally.MissionOur mission is to deliver resilient autonomous technologies that strengthen national security, improve operational safety, and expand the capabilities of organizations operating in complex environments.Why Join PowerusPowerus aircraft fly missions with limited operator input: they follow routes, respond to changing tasking, handle lost links, and increasingly coordinate with other aircraft. The software that makes those decisions runs on the aircraft and must behave predictably in conditions that simulation does not fully capture.This role develops autonomy behaviors and the robotics software framework they run on, and carries them from simulation through flight test.Position OverviewPowerus is seeking a Robotics Software Engineer to develop autonomy behaviors, mission logic, and onboard robotics software for autonomous aerial systems.Key ResponsibilitiesDevelop onboard autonomy behaviors including route following, contingency handling, and return to baseDevelop multi-aircraft coordination and task allocationIntegrate autonomy software with the flight control stack, perception, and datalinksBuild and maintain simulation scenarios for autonomy development and regression testingProfile and optimize software on embedded compute platformsSupport flight test and analyze flight logs to resolve defectsDocument software architecture and interfacesQualificationsMust be located in the United States, within commuting distance of Rock Hill, SCBachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experienceProfessional experience developing robotics or autonomy software in C++ or PythonExperience with ROS 2 or a comparable robotics middlewareExperience with simulation-based development and testingWorking knowledge of coordinate frames, state estimation, and vehicle dynamicsExperience with Linux development environmentsU.S. Person status required (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)); this role involves access to ITAR- and EAR-controlled technical dataPreferred QualificationsExperience with PX4 or ArduPilotExperience with Gazebo or comparable simulatorsExperience with multi-agent or collaborative autonomyExperience fielding software on aircraft, ground robots, or autonomous vehiclesActive or prior U.S. security clearanceWhat We Look ForCandidates should have written autonomy software that ran on a physical robot or vehicle and be able to describe how its behavior in the field differed from simulation.Equal Opportunity StatementPowerus is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and mission-driven workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.