Principal Robotics Engineer

ARA's Engineering Science Division is seeking a highly skilled and innovative robotics engineer to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in C++, Java Script, and Python development, coupled with experience in robotics. This full-stack role involves developing robust frontend and backend software for virtual simulation.

This is an on-site position located in San Antonio, TX.

U.S. citizenship is required. Candidates selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

What you will do as a principal robotics engineer:

• Architect, develop, and maintain backend systems using C++, Python, ROS/ROS2, and containerized deployment environments (Docker).
• Implement scalable and maintainable build and CI/CD workflows using Git and automated pipelines.
• Develop front-end user interfaces and tools using JavaScript, Java-based GUI frameworks, REST APIs, and cloud-based technologies.
• Design and implement APIs and data exchange layers supporting simulation systems, autonomy behaviors, and sensor modeling.
• Contribute to high-fidelity simulation environments representing UUV dynamics, environmental conditions, sensor modalities, and mission workflows.
• Collaborate with autonomy and systems engineers to integrate perception, navigation, and control capabilities.
• Perform code reviews, mentor junior developers, and contribute to software engineering best practices.
• Troubleshoot and optimize software performance across distributed systems and heterogeneous hardware environments.
• Build and deploy containerized applications using Docker in development and production environments.

Principal robotics engineer requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 12+ years of experience. Advanced degree may serve in partial fulfillment of the experience requirement.
• Expert-level proficiency in C++, Python, and JavaScript for backend and frontend systems development.
• Demonstrated experience with robotics software stacks including ROS/ROS2, simulation environments, and sensor or autonomy integration.
• Demonstrated experience designing and maintaining APIs, CI/CD pipelines, and distributed system architectures.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills across complex software and hardware environments.

Preferred experience

• Azure cloud services and cloud-native application development.
• Jira and Confluence for project tracking, documentation, and Agile workflow management.
• Experience building software for scalability, modularity, and long-term maintainability.
• Knowledge of physics‑based modeling, environmental simulation, or digital twin concepts.

About ARA

ARA is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs more than 2,000 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in computer software and simulation, environmental technologies, defense technologies, systems analysis, civil technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for robotics, environmental site characterization, and pavement analysis.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience.