Robotics Systems Engineer

C5R is building facilities that connect frontier AI to the physical world. We see this connection as a force for good in expanding humanity's tech tree.

We are hiring a robotics systems engineer to build, bring up, and improve the robot systems that make an automated research facility work.

Our robots are controlled with a mix of general‑purpose models, including vision‑language‑action models and world models; classical routines that interact with fixtures; and sometimes integrated with reverse‑engineered scientific equipment.

You will work across the robotics stack: controls, firmware, robot runtimes, perception, teleoperation, and autonomy. Examples of work might include:

• Debugging GMSL firmware, a CAN bus issue, or a video encoding flake.
• Tuning a teleoperation stack so operators can generate smoother, higher‑quality demonstrations.
• Building and debugging robot runtime software that can run robot arms, cameras, reverse‑engineered instruments, and other facility devices as part of one coordinated system.
• Collaborating with ML researchers to understand why a robot failed, then concretely improving the hardware, software, or calibration to fix it.

• Strong practical robotics, mechatronics, or controls engineering experience. You should have built and debugged real systems, not only simulations.
• Comfort moving between software and hardware: reading logs, writing Python, working in a lower‑level systems language such as Rust, C++, or C, and opening up the machine when the bug is physical.
• Good fundamentals in controls and kinematics.

• PCB design and bring‑up, especially small interface boards, power distribution, interlocks, connectors, and test points.
• CAD fluency and experience with 3D printing, machining, laser cutting, or other rapid prototyping workflows.
• Experience with real‑time operating systems.
• Experience with lab automation or scientific equipment.

We are open to full‑time roles and temporary stints of at least 3 months. Compensation depends on experience and structure. This role is on site in San Francisco only.