Motion Controls & Robotics Software Engineer

Give hope. Give health. Make your mark in the fight against cancer.

At Accuray, we make a direct and powerful impact on the lives of cancer patients every day — helping them live longer, better lives. But our commitment to innovation offers a truly unique opportunity: the chance to change the fight against cancer — helping to develop, introduce and support new treatment delivery systems and software that will give new hope and new health to cancer patients and cancer survivors around the world.

Accuray develops, manufactures and sells radiotherapy systems for alternative cancer treatments. Our radiation therapy for cancer makes treatment shorter, safer, personalized and more effective, ultimately enabling patients to live longer, better lives.

Job Description

The Motion Controls & Robotics Software Engineer contributes to the research, planning, design, implementation, and verification of software that controls critical electro-mechanical and robotic motion mechanisms contributing to the function and performance of Accuray’s radiation therapy products. This is a software-forward motion control role for early-career candidates with foundational experience or strong demonstrated capability developing software that interfaces with physical hardware. The role supports high-level architecture, detailed implementation, integration, and verification of these motion devices while building cross-functional experience across Software, Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems Engineering to solve complex engineering problems.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

• Object-oriented software development and hands-on hardware integration for Accuray’s control systems, including robotic manipulators, precision positioning systems, thermal and pneumatic control systems. Detailed analysis reports (design reviews, control system models, DFMEA, etc.), debugging, reliability cycling, system integration, and formal software/hardware testing are key components of the development activities.

• Researches, analyzes, plans, and implements the control system design in accordance with product requirements as established from various sources including marketing, manufacturing, reliability, and customer specification documents. Supports the distillation of system-level requirements into sub-system and component-level requirements.

• Develops and executes comprehensive test plans, including manual, automated, unit, integration, and system-level tests, to rigorously verify developed software and hardware against defined requirements and specifications.

• Hands-on, data driven problem solving – commonly working directly with motion hardware to move development efforts forward. Assists with hardware prototype builds and troubleshooting as needed.

• Documents, implements and tests applicable design requirements for production. This includes supporting the transfer of relevant design output documents, recommended assembly and test instructions, and service troubleshooting support.

• Collaborates closely and frequently with Embedded Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, and test teams throughout the software development and product development lifecycle.

• Provides subject matter expert input and guidance for field service escalations into engineering.

• Supports the Mechanical Systems Manager in establishing or updating project and departmental deliverables.

COLLABORATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Works collaboratively within project teams and Product Development, seeking input from senior engineers and cross-functional partners as appropriate.

• Communicates technical progress, risks, and roadblocks clearly, and incorporates feedback into design, implementation, and verification of work.

• Follows applicable quality processes on projects and within the Mechanical Systems group.

• Contributes to process improvement activities as experience grows.

SAFETY AND QUALITY 

• Supports the effective implementation of safety and quality considerations and requirements in product design.

• Supports timely investigation, communication, and resolution of safety and quality issues raised by customers or staff.

• Supports Accuray’s Quality System and Safety and Health Program by following applicable procedures and documentation practices.

Qualifications

Required

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Mechatronics, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical field, with coursework or experience in software development for physical systems.

• Software experience: Professional software development experience is preferred, but strong candidates with substantial internship, co-op, academic project, research, or personal project experience developing software for physical systems will be considered. Relevant experience should demonstrate hands-on software development, debugging, test discipline, and interest in software that interfaces with electro-mechanical, robotic, or motion control systems 

• Cross-disciplinary engineering knowledge: Working knowledge of Mechanical, Electrical, and Software Engineering design principles, including how software interfaces with sensors, actuators, motor controllers, and other electro-mechanical components.

• Object-oriented software development: Demonstrated foundation in designing and implementing object-oriented software in C++ and/or Python, including class design, interfaces/abstractions, modular code structure, debugging, and unit/integration testing.

• Software development practices: Experience using professional software development practices such as version control, code review, issue tracking, build/release workflows, and automated testing.

• Product development exposure: Exposure to software development, testing, or release activities for products, prototypes, lab systems, or hardware-integrated software.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Able to effectively present technical concepts to individuals that are not subject matter experts and assist as needed.

Preferred or Desired 

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical field. 

• Internship, co-op, research, academic project, or early professional experience in a regulated, safety-critical, medical device, robotics, automation, or high-reliability engineering environment.

• Demonstrated ability to test and verify developed hardware and software against requirements.

• Ability to develop system-level requirements for motion control systems and effectively integrate both individual components into a system and sub-systems into a larger system.

• Experience or strong academic/project exposure working with automated or robotic systems and their components (motor controllers, drive electronics, sensors, etc.), including low-level firmware, mid-level software interfaces/device drivers, APIs, and robot controls middleware.

• Experience developing robotics, motion control, or embedded software in regulated, safety-critical, or high-reliability environments.

• Experience programming digital motion controllers, including configuration and utilization of digital I/O for motion control applications.

• Self-starter who can make progress independently while seeking guidance appropriately, collaborating with peers and management as needed.

• Demonstrated experience developing, building, debugging, or deploying software in Linux-based environments.

• Exposure to 3D CAD modeling software (SolidWorks preferred) and virtualization tools for robotics applications.

• Exposure to Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) and parallel computing concepts.

• Proficiency with linear algebra, rigid transformations, coordinate frames, and/or robotics software for serial-link manipulators.

• Proficiency in working with databases, including querying, data manipulation, and schema design.

• Strong foundational knowledge in control theory combined with hands-on experience developing data-driven control strategies. 

• Comfortable using AI-assisted tools to enhance productivity, accelerate problem solving, and strengthen software development workflows while maintaining engineering judgment, verification discipline, and ownership of the final work product.

• Understands fundamental machine learning and reinforcement learning concepts and their potential utility in advancing robotic capabilities.

• Formal product reliability qualification and testing background.

#LI-BB1

To qualify for this position, candidates must be able to furnish proof that they are authorized to work in the country they are applying on a permanent basis without sponsorship.

EEO Statement

At Accuray, our commitment to patient-first outcomes drives an inclusive and collaborative work environment where the best ideas rise to the top — and everyone works to push them further. We value diversity in both the professional and personal backgrounds of our employees, as this variety adds rich energy to every team, every project and every work day. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin – including individuals with disabilities and veterans.