Sr Software Development Engineer, Test

Join us to reimagine the future of human-robot interaction.

Collaborative Robotics is a team of innovators and builders redefining the future of human-robot interaction. We are working to realize a world where robots are a trusted extension of your surroundings. They work, adapt, and react around you. Not the other way around.

Are you excited by the challenge of validating a sophisticated robotic system across hardware and software boundaries? Do you enjoy designing rigorous test systems that push the limits of integration, reliability, and performance?

We’re looking for a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to join our robotics team and ensure our robots perform flawlessly in the real world. In this role, you’ll build test infrastructure, develop system-level test plans, and lead validation efforts that span firmware, embedded control, high-level autonomy, and the mechanical system itself.

This role is located at our Santa Clara, CA headquarters. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and implement test frameworks and infrastructure for validating complex robotic systems.
• Develop automated test suites across software and hardware integration points.
• Create system-level validation plans for robot behavior, performance, and reliability.
• Investigate, debug, and triage hardware and software issues — from low-level interfaces to high-level autonomy stack.
• Build and extend simulation-based and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments.
• Collaborate closely with engineering teams across embedded software, perception, controls, and mechanical/electrical domains.
• Contribute to internal tools for test automation, diagnostics, and log analysis.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in software and/or systems testing, ideally in robotics, hardware-focused automation, or embedded systems.
• Proficiency in object oriented Python for test development and scripting or equivalent.
• Experience validating systems that integrate software and electromechanical components.
• Experience designing and running automated test pipelines such as CI. 
• Understanding of Linux-based development environments and common debugging tools.
• Highly motivated teammate with excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Enjoy working in a fast paced, collaborative and dynamic start-up environment as part of a small team.
• Willing to occasionally travel.
• Must have and maintain US work authorization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with simulation frameworks (e.g., Gazebo, Webots, Isaac Sim).
• Experience with C++. 
• Familiarity with robot middleware such as ROS/ROS2.
• Familiarity with hardware communication protocols (EtherCAT, CAN, SPI, I2C).
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with engineering teams to drive root cause analysis and quality improvements.
• Experience developing or maintaining telemetry/logging infrastructure for test analysis.
• Exposure to safety-related testing practices or certification processes (e.g., fault injection, redundancy validation).

The base salary range for this position is $180,000-$215,000 plus equity and comprehensive benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and experience level. The range reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position in the noted geographic area. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.