Field Robotics Engineer (SF Bay Area w​/ Travel

Compound Eye enables machines to understand their surroundings in 3D and in real time using only passive sensors like cameras and IMUs. Our VIDAS™ technology takes video from automotive-grade cameras and outputs a dense, semantic 3D representation of the world that vehicles and robots can use to navigate their environment. VIDAS is a fully redundant alternative to LiDAR and radar. Compound Eye has customers in automotive, agriculture, healthcare, and defense and is backed by Khosla Ventures and other leading investors.

We’re looking for an all‑round engineer who loves to build, test, and adapt real hardware. You are someone who thrives where mechanical, electrical, and software systems meet the real world. This is a position for an inventive engineer who can prototype new ideas, get their hands dirty in the field, and work directly with customers to understand their needs. You’ll help us turn Compound Eye's autonomy technology into practical, deployable solutions for ground vehicles and drones.

• Design and fabricate components such as sensor mounts, gimbals, and housings (using CAD, 3D printing, or light machining) to integrate cameras, GNSS/RTK, IMUs, and compute modules into autonomous platforms.
• Prepare and execute vehicle and drone test campaigns; operate and troubleshoot systems in the field.
• Log sensor and telemetry data to evaluate system performance.
• Maintain test vehicles, drones, and hardware setups to ensure reliability and repeatability.
• Design and execute demonstrations for potential customers, partners, and investors.
• Work directly with customers, partners, and pilot users to understand operational needs, constraints, and success criteria.
• Translate those needs into engineering requirements and prototype modifications.
• Support field demos and integration efforts, providing clear feedback between customers and the core engineering team.
• Create clear build notes, wiring diagrams, test reports, and user documentation.
• Collaborate across mechanical, software, and autonomy teams to accelerate iteration cycles.
• Direct and supervise contractors and service providers to help with all of the above.

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in electrical, mechanical, robotics, or systems engineering.
• 3+ years of professional hands‑on technical work in robotics, hardware, or automation.
• Proven hands‑on ability with CAD design, 3D printing, soldering, wiring, and prototyping.
• Experience with sensors such as cameras, GPS/​GNSS, and IMUs.
• Working knowledge of Python and C++.
• Excellent communication skills and a genuine interest in working with customers to solve real‑world problems.
• Comfort operating in outdoor and field environments.

• Experience flying or operating drones and autonomous vehicles.
• Exposure to computer vision, SLAM, and sensor fusion techniques.
• Previous customer‑facing experience (support, demos, field trials, or engineering sales).

• Expect regular travel for demos, customer engagements, and test events (up to 40 %).
• Must be comfortable working outdoors or in varied environments (fields, warehouses, customer sites).
• Some weekend or off‑hours work may be required during test campaigns or customer events.

Base salary: $135,000 to $175,000, depending on experience.

• Strong Incentive Stock Options (ISO)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Annual home office stipend
• Employer‑paid long‑term disability, short‑term disability, and life insurance
• 401(k) with employer match after 6 months
• Flexible PTO and 8 holidays + 2 week winter break
• Paid family leave
• Quarterly onsite visits in San Francisco.

This role requires physical presence in the San Francisco area.

Applicants must be a U.S. person as defined under ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee) or qualify for a license exception.

Compound Eye is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

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