Senior Embedded Software Engineer, Safety

At Cobot, safety is foundational to everything we build. As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer, Safety, you will join our Safety team and play a critical role in designing and delivering the embedded software that ensures our robots operate reliably and safely alongside people.

In this role, you will architect and develop real-time embedded systems that sit at the intersection of hardware, firmware, and safety-critical functionality. You’ll bring up new hardware platforms, build robust RTOS-based software, and contribute to diagnostics, monitoring, and safety-related mechanisms that support dependable robot operation in real-world environments.

You’ll work closely with hardware, systems, controls, and operations teams to ensure safety is designed into the platform from the ground up. This is an opportunity to apply strong embedded engineering fundamentals while helping shape how safety is implemented, validated, and continuously improved across our robotic systems.

This role is located at our Santa Clara, CA headquarters or Seattle, WA office.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect and deliver embedded software in an RTOS environment, including task scheduling & prioritization, inter-task communication, and device driver management.

• Evaluate and integrate compute hardware, peripherals, middleware components, and development toolchains, ensuring performance, reliability, and alignment with system requirements.

• Bring up new hardware platforms, develop hardware abstraction layers (HALs), and support integration of sensors, actuators, and custom electronics.

• Analyze real-world and simulated robot data to assess system performance, identify bottlenecks, and drive continuous improvements across the embedded stack.

• Contribute to platform diagnostics, monitoring, watchdogs, and basic safety-related mechanisms as part of robust system design.

• Produce clear, high-quality documentation and participate in structured development, testing, and code review processes.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer, Electrical, Robotics, or Software Engineering (or related field.)

• 5+ years developing embedded or real-time software for robotics, automation, or other performance- or reliability-critical systems.

• Strong C/C++ skills for low-level and embedded development.

• Experience with RTOS, firmware bring-up, device drivers, and MCU peripherals.

• Hands-on experience with microcontroller-based systems, embedded toolchains, and reading/interpreting hardware datasheets.

• Familiarity with structured engineering practices such as requirements documentation, traceability, verification, and code quality processes.

• Strong cross-functional communication skills and ability to collaborate with hardware, systems, controls, and operations teams.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup and small, interdisciplinary teams.

• Must have and maintain US work authorization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in a relevant field.

• Experience architecting or scaling embedded compute subsystems.

• Familiarity with functional safety principles or standards (IEC 61508, ISO 26262, ISO 13849) as applied to embedded robotics—no certification experience required.

• Experience with complex MCUs and SOCs (e.g., asymmetric multicore), hardware redundancy approaches, or mixed-criticality systems.

• Knowledge of industrial robotics concepts and relevant standards (e.g., ISO 10218, ISO 12100).

• Experience integrating sensors, perception modules, or real-time control pipelines into embedded platforms.

• Background participating in audits, documentation reviews, or technical assessments of embedded systems.

• Experience driving reliability improvements through monitoring, diagnostics, incident response, or structured feedback loops.

The base salary range for this position is $195,000 - $210,000 plus equity and comprehensive benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and experience level. The range reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position in the noted geographic area. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Cobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.

To all recruitment agencies: Cobot does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our employees. Cobot is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.