Robotics Software Lead - Construction

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Job Description:

TheRoboticsSoftwareLeadisresponsibleforsettingthetechnicaldirectionforHITT’sroboticssoftwareteamandleadingthedevelopmentofsystemsdesignedforcomplex,dynamic,andunstructuredconstructionjobsites.Thisroleguidesinitiativesacrossthefulldevelopmentlifecycle,fromproof-of-conceptprototypesthroughscaledfielddeployment.Asahands-on,product-mindedengineeringleader,theRoboticsSoftwareLeadownsthesoftwarestack,managesandmentorsengineers,coordinatesstrategicco-developmentpartnerships,supportstheroboticsR&Ddevelopmentroadmap,andestablishesthearchitecture,infrastructure,andengineeringpracticesthatempowertheteamtoexperimentquicklyandscalesuccessfulsolutions.  

ThisteammemberreportstotheRoboticsLeadandispartofHITT’sRoboticsTeam,whichleadsresearchanddevelopment,pilotprograms,andfull-timefielddeployments.TheRoboticsTeam’smissionistosupportourprojectteams,transformourindustry,andbringrobotstoeveryjobsite. 

Theidealcandidatehasledsoftwareteamsthathavedevelopedanddeployedcomplexroboticssystemsindemandingreal-worldenvironments.Theyareequallycomfortablemovingquicklytovalidateanearlyconceptwhileapplyingtheengineeringdisciplinerequiredtomatureaprototypeintoareliable,safe,andmaintainablefieldsystem.Theycombinesystems-levelfieldroboticsexpertisewithaproductmindset,clearprojectleadership,andapracticalunderstandingofthe tradeoffs and dependencies among software, sensors, compute, networking, controls, mechanical hardware, and field operations.Thisroleofferstheopportunitytodefineafoundationalsoftwareplatform,growahigh-performingengineeringteam,anddirectlyinfluencehowHITTdevelopsanddeploysroboticsinthefield. 

We encourage strong candidates excited by this role to apply even if they do not match every technical qualification listed.     

RESPONSIBILITIES 

TechnicalLeadership 

• Own the architecture and technical direction of the robotics software stack, including system interfaces, design standards, and technical review practices. 

• Ownthesoftwareinfrastructurethatsupportsdevelopment,simulation,automatedtesting,continuousintegrationanddelivery,deployment,observability,datacollection,andfleetsupport. 

• Guidetechnicaldecisionsacrossautonomy,perception,manipulation,operatorinterfaces,embeddedcompute,networking,simulation,andcloud-connectedservices. 

• Leadeffortstointegrateandextendthird-partytechnologiesviaAPIs,SDKs,middleware,andothersoftwareinterfaces. 

• Ensuresoftwaredesignsaccountforsafety,cybersecurity,maintainability,degradedoperatingmodes,andtheenvironmentalconstraintsofactiveconstructionsites. 

• EstablishstandardsforAI-assistedandagenticsoftwaredevelopment,includinghumanreview,automatedtesting,evaluation,andappropriatetechnicalguardrails. 

• Remainahands-ontechnicalcontributor includingarchitecturereviews,codereviews,prototyping,systemintegration,anddiagnosisofdifficultcross-stackissues. 

• Travel to active construction sites andparticipate directly in testing, deployment, and operational support. 

TeamLeadershipandDelivery 

• Lead,manage,andmentorateamofsoftwareengineers,settingclearexpectationsandsupportingtheirtechnicalandprofessionaldevelopment. 

• Coordinateday-to-dayR&Dworkbytranslatingprioritiesintoactionableplans,assigningownership,trackingdependencies,andresolvingblockers. 

• Establishengineeringplans,milestones,releasecriteria,andqualityexpectationsformultipleconcurrentroboticsinitiatives. 

• Useproductmanagementpracticestotranslateuserneeds,fieldobservations,andbusinessprioritiesintorequirements,backlogs,experiments,andreleaseplans. 

• Promotedisciplinedsoftwareengineeringpractices,includingdocumentation,versioncontrol,automatedtesting,CI/CD,configurationmanagement,andreproducibledevelopmentenvironments. 

• Supportteamgrowththroughthoughtfulstaffing,onboarding,feedback,andknowledgesharing. 

PartnershipsandCross-FunctionalCoordination 

• Leadthe technical delivery ofco-developmentinitiativeswithtechnologypartnersandvendors,includingdefiningscope,interfaces,milestones,risks,acceptancecriteria,andownership. 

• Evaluatethird-partytechnologiesandrecommendwhenHITTshouldbuild,buy,adapt,orpartnerbasedontechnicalfit,lifecyclecost,schedule,risk,andsupportability. 

• Coordinatesoftwareprioritiesandintegrationworkwithhardwareengineering,fieldtesting,projectteams,operations,informationtechnology,cybersecurity,andotherdepartments. 

ResearchandDevelopmentRoadmap 

• SupportthedevelopmentandexecutionoftheR&Dtechnicalroadmapbyidentifyingsoftwarecapabilities,dependencies,resourceneeds,technicalrisks,andvalidationplans. 

• Planandoverseestructuredtestinginthelabandonactiveconstructionprojects, then usetest results and operational feedback to prioritize engineering work and guide product decisions. 

• Supportdeployedsystemsthroughremoteandon-sitetroubleshooting,root-causeanalysis,correctiveactions,andimprovementstomonitoringandsupportprocesses. 

• Documentarchitectures,interfaces,testresults,deploymentprocedures,andlessonslearnedsosolutionscanbesupportedandscaled. 

REQUIREDQUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’sdegreeinrobotics,computerscience,softwareengineering,electricalengineering,mechanicalengineering,orrelatedfield,advanceddegreepreferred. 

• 5+yearsofexperienceinroboticssoftwaredevelopment,includingdemonstratedexperienceleadingsoftwareengineeringteamsthatdevelopedanddeployedcomplexfieldroboticsapplicationsinreal-worldenvironments. 

• Experienceapplyingproductmanagementpracticestodefinerequirements,prioritizeroadmapsandbacklogs,planreleases,andincorporateend-userfeedback. 

• ProficiencyinC++,Python,andLinux-basedroboticsdevelopmentandsystem-leveltroubleshooting. 

• Experienceapplyingmodernsoftware-engineeringpractices,includingversioncontrol(e.g.,Git),automatedtesting,CI/CDpipelines,andcontainerization(e.g.,Docker). 

• ExperienceworkingwithAPIs/SDKs,open-sourcesoftwarepackages,andtechnicalstandardstobringtogetherdisparatetechnologycomponentsintoareliablesolution. 

• FluencywithAI-assistedandagenticsoftwaredevelopment(e.g.,ClaudeCode,GitHubCopilot,Cursor). 

• Experienceleadingexternalpartnersorvendorsthroughco-development,integration,technicalprojectmanagement,andacceptancetesting. 

• Abilitytocommunicatecomplextechnicaltopics,decisions,risks,andplansclearlytotechnicalandnontechnicalaudiences. 

PREFERREDQUALIFICATIONS 

• Experiencedevelopingroboticsystemsforconstruction,manufacturing,logistics,agriculture,mining,defense,orotherdemandingreal-worldenvironments. 

• Experiencewithmobilerobotautonomy,perception,SLAM,navigation,manipulation,motionplanning,controls,orteleoperation. 

• Experiencedevelopinglow-latencyteleoperationsystemsthatintegratereal-timevideo,command,andtelemetrystreams,includinggracefuldegradationamidintermittentconnectivity. 

• Experienceintegratingcameras,LiDAR,GNSS,IMUs,actuators,embeddedcomputers,GPU-acceleratedperception,andotherroboticsensingandcontrolhardware. 

• Experienceusingroboticssimulationenvironments(e.g.,Gazebo,NVIDIAIsaacSim,Unity)totrain,test,andvalidateroboticsystemsusingReal-to-SimandSim-to-Realpipelines. 

• ExperiencedevelopingroboticsystemsusingRobotOperatingSystem2(ROS2)andcomparableroboticsmiddleware.  

• Experiencedevelopingcloud-connectedroboticssoftware(e.g.,Azure,AzureDevOps,AWS),web-basedoperatorinterfaces(e.g.,React,JavaScript/TypeScript),andreal-timevideo-streamingpipelines(e.g.,GStreamer). 

In accordance with Virginia Senate Bill 215 (SB 215), the base salary range for this position is:

Compensation in other cities and states may vary. HITT Contracting offers a competitive total benefits and compensation package including performance-based bonuses, premium health care coverage including vision and dental, employer-matched 401(k), wellness reimbursement program, paid holidays and time-off, and other voluntary benefits and leave types. The determination of salary is based on the candidate’s individual professional experience, qualifications, education, skills, and training.

HITT Contracting is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring and developing the most qualified individuals based on job-related experience, skills, and merit. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We value a respectful, inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. HITT Contracting maintains a drug-free workplace, consistent with applicable local, state, and federal laws.