Autonomy Engineer, Robotics Behaviors

The Bigger PictureAt Andromeda Robotics, we’re not just imagining the future of human-robot relationships, we’re building it. Abi is the first emotionally intelligent humanoid companion robot, designed to bring care, conversation, and joy to the people who need it most. Backed by tier-1 investors and with customers already deploying Abi across aged care and healthcare, we’re scaling fast, and we’re doing it with an engineering-first culture that’s obsessed with pushing the limits of what’s possible.This is a rare moment to join: we’re post-technical validation, pre-ubiquity, and building out the team that will take Abi from early access to global scale.Our ValuesEmpathy - Kindness and compassion are at the heart of everything we do.Play - Play sharpens focus. It keeps us curious, fast and obsessed with the craft.Never Settle- A relentless ambition, bias toward action, and uncomfortable levels of curiosity.Tenacity - Tenacious under pressure, we assume chaos and stay in motion to adapt and progress.Unity- Different minds. Shared mission. No passengers..The Mission: Give Abi the Freedom to MoveWe are looking for a first-principles Autonomy Engineer to solve one of the hardest challenges in robotics: enabling our robot, Abi, to navigate safely and gracefully alongside people. This role starts with simple A-to-B navigation but goes far beyond that. You will be responsible for developing the core decision-making and behavior logic that allows Abi to understand, predict, and react to the complexities of human-centric environments like aged care homes.This is a chance to build a production-grade autonomy stack from the ground up and ship a product that has a meaningful impact on people's lives.This role can be performed from either one of our two primary locations: South Melbourne, VIC, Australia or San Francisco, CA, USA.RequirementsKey ResponsibilitiesDevelop the Brains of Navigation: You will design and implement the core decision-making and motion planning stack for Abi. This includes creating algorithms for navigating crowded hallways, negotiating right-of-way in social contexts, and ensuring all movements are safe, smooth, and predictable.Predictive Behavior Modelling: You will build models that predict the motion and intent of people in Abi's vicinity. You'll move beyond simple obstacle avoidance to create a system that anticipates human behavior, enabling more intelligent and socially aware interactions.Build Robust Fail-Safes: You will rigorously define the operational design domain (ODD) and develop robust, verifiable safety and fallback systems. Your work will ensure Abi can identify and safely handle edge cases and system limitations.Data-Driven Development: You will own the full data lifecycle. This includes identifying key performance indicators (KPIs), creating automated data collection and evaluation pipelines, and using real-world fleet data to find failure modes and drive algorithmic improvements.Simulation & Validation: You will use high-fidelity simulation scenarios to test complex interaction logic at scale, ensuring our software is validated against millions of diverse and challenging situations before it's deployed to hardware.Ideally You HaveA proactive, first-principles thinker who is excited by the prospect of owning a critical system at an early-stage startup.Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Engineering, or a related field.3+ years of professional experience autonomous systems for complex systems like robots, autonomous vehicles, or drones.Strong programming proficiency in C++ and Python.Experience with robotics simulation platforms (e.g., NVIDIA Isaac Lab, Gazebo, CARLA, AirSim) and physics engines (e.g., PhysX, MuJoCo).Excellent understanding of core robotics principles (kinematics, dynamics, perception, and control).Experience with ROS/ROS2.Strong experience developing testing and deploying at least one of the following: Perception (Lidar / camera machine vision)Mapping and planning algorithms SLAMMotion control (MPC and similar) Bonus PointsPhD in a relevant field.Experience with robotics in human rated environments.Experience with the certification of a robot in human environments (eg. ISO-13482).BenefitsThe expected base salary range for this role, when performed in our San Francisco office, is $200,000 - $250,000 USD. The salary for this position may vary depending on factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional benefits or components based on the specific role. Details will be provided if an employment offer is made.If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, that’s okay—we encourage you to apply. At Andromeda Robotics, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Let’s build the future together.We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.Please note: At this time, we are generally not offering visa sponsorship for this role.