Forward Deployed Software Engineer
Location: San Francisco, CA (full time, in-person)
Company Overview
Our mission is to build a city on Mars and accelerate the construction of critical infrastructure on Earth. Starting with Cosmic-1 – a system that installs solar panels 10x faster than today’s methods, helping us transition to a clean energy future and laying the groundwork for the future of autonomous construction.
The Role
As a Forward Deployed Software Engineer, you will be the bridge between our cutting-edge robotics and our customers, owning the end-to-end deployment and long-term success of robots in the field. You will work hand-in-hand with our customers to develop, deploy, and ensure the optimal performance of the best construction robots in the world. This role is crucial for extending our platform with new features based on direct customer feedback and driving its adoption. As a core member of the team, you will help define the era of autonomous construction.
This is a rare opportunity to:
Work on hard, meaningful problems that impact the future of infrastructure and energy.
Collaborate with a world-class team from NASA, SpaceX, Google, Built Robotics, and others.
Rapidly grow, learn, and lead within a quickly scaling company.
Responsibilities
Own the full robot deployment lifecycle at customer sites, from initial setup and commissioning to field validation and long-term maintenance.
Work directly with customers as a technical partner, translating their operational needs into requirements for new robot and platform features.
Develop, integrate, and deploy new features to meet specific customer requirements.
Triage and debug issues in the field and ensure high robot uptime.
Set milestones, plan roadmaps, and deliver on ambitious timelines for customer deployments and feature delivery.
Requirements
2+ years of professional engineering experience.
Willingness to regularly travel to customer jobsites
Excellent first-principles understanding of system-level engineering, including robotics, software, and hardware interaction.
Strong experience in robotics, system integration, and software development (e.g., Python, C++).
Demonstrated experience owning the full product lifecycle from customer requirements collection to field deployment.
Familiarity with deployment and diagnostic tools for robotic systems.
Excellent communication and project management skills.
Thrive in fast-paced environments and push boundaries to meet deadlines.
Bonus
5+ years of professional engineering experience in a technical field role.
Experience with forward deployment, field engineering, or technical consulting in a robotics field.
Management and recruiting experience.
Skills Required
- 2+ years of professional engineering experience
- System-level engineering understanding, including robotics, software, and hardware interaction
- Experience with robotics, system integration, and software development using technologies such as Python or C++
- Experience owning the product lifecycle from customer requirements collection through field deployment
- Familiarity with deployment and diagnostic tools for robotic systems
- Excellent communication and project management skills
- Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and meet deadlines
- 5+ years of professional engineering experience in a technical field role
- Experience with forward deployment, field engineering, or technical consulting in robotics
- Management and recruiting experience
What We Do
Cosmic Robotics develops AI-powered robotics for utility-scale solar construction, aiming to automate physically demanding tasks with their flagship product, Cosmic-1, to increase speed, safety, and efficiency.
