Watney Robotics Inc Logo

Watney Robotics Inc

Staff Embedded Engineer

Posted 21 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
In-Office
San Francisco, CA, USA
Senior level
In-Office
San Francisco, CA, USA
Senior level
Design and implement bare-metal firmware, HALs, and low-level drivers; lead board bring-up; architect and automate HIL test rigs; optimize low-level bus protocols (I2C, SPI, CAN); collaborate with CMs/OEMs for hardware validation and layout/specification decisions to ensure electromechanical reliability and safety.
The summary above was generated by AI
Our Mission

Expand human ambition in the physical world.

Critical infrastructure is constrained by labor shortages, hazardous working conditions, and operational complexity. Watney builds and deploys autonomous robotic systems that increase the speed and capacity of buildout, starting with data centers.

About the Role

At Watney, Embedded Engineers drive the fundamental capabilities of our robot systems. Working with our mechanical, electrical, and ML teams across new sensor modalities and embodiments, you’ll help set a new high watermark for system reliability and safety.

We’re looking for someone irrationally enthusiastic about embedded software development. You should be equally comfortable making long term architectural bets, designing dependable systems, and iterating quickly across a large software surface.

What You’ll Do
  • Execute Board Bringup: Lead initial board bring-up, construct reliable Hardware Abstraction Layers (HAL), and write drivers directly touching our raw microcontrollers and actuators.

  • Drive HIL Testing & Validation: Architect, set up, and automate robust hardware-in-the-loop testing rigs to ensure exceptional electromechanical reliability and safety.

  • Collaborate Internationally: Partner closely with CMs and OEMs to drive specification discovery, influence layout development, and lead early specialized chip bring-up and validation.

  • Optimize Low-Level Protocols: Own the communication stack, developing and fine-tuning low-level bus protocols (e.g., I2C, SPI, CAN) to handle high-frequency hardware telemetry streams.

You May Be a Good Fit If You:
  • Have deep professional experience developing bare-metal firmware or low-level systems code inside deeply resource-constrained environments.

  • Possess high technical competency designing, implementing, or debugging core communication buses (CAN, SPI, I2C).

  • Bring a proven track record building out or operating HIL testing infrastructure to catch edge-case hardware faults early.

  • Experience interfacing directly with CMs/OEMs to clear up ambiguous requirements, evaluate silicon alternatives, and guide physical board layouts.

We’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive team. At Watney Robotics, we welcome people of all backgrounds and identities, and we make hiring decisions based on skills, experience, and potential. If you’re passionate about robotics but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply!

Curious to learn more?

Follow us here on X and LinkedIn

HQ

Watney Robotics Inc San Francisco, California, USA Office

San Francisco, California, United States, 94110

Similar Jobs

Yesterday
Hybrid
Foster City, CA, USA
235K-300K Annually
Senior level
235K-300K Annually
Senior level
Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Transportation • Design • Manufacturing
Design, implement, and maintain the embedded Linux OS platform for on-vehicle devices. Configure Yocto and U-Boot, develop kernel-space components and drivers, optimize performance, support hardware bring-up, manufacturing, and cross-functional integrations.
Top Skills: BashCC++CgroupsChrootLinuxLinux NamespacesPythonSystemdU-BootYocto
7 Days Ago
In-Office
Milpitas, CA, USA
Senior level
Senior level
Artificial Intelligence • Software • Generative AI
Lead architecture and development of core robotics platform software (Intel and NVIDIA Jetson). Ensure Linux-based system performance, real-time behavior, deployment, telemetry, DDS configuration, and OS/hypervisor integration. Mentor engineers, guide roadmap and conduct rigorous code reviews to maintain high software quality and scalability.
Top Skills: C++DdsHypervisorIntel Robotics PlatformsLinuxLinux KernelNvidia JetsonPythonRosTelemetry/Monitoring
11 Days Ago
Hybrid
Palo Alto, CA, USA
150K-284K Annually
Expert/Leader
150K-284K Annually
Expert/Leader
Automotive
Design and implement firmware architecture and control/estimation algorithms for vehicle body systems (windows, lighting, latches). Lead hardware integration and validation on benches, labcars, and vehicles. Drive functional safety analyses, develop test plans and automation for unit/SIL/HIL testing, and optimize embedded code for timing, memory, and low-power operation.
Top Skills: Automotive EthernetAutosarBazelCCanCmakeFreertosLinMisra CObdOsekPythonSafertosScons

What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene

San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area attracts more startup funding than any other region in the world. Home to Stanford University and UC Berkeley, leading VC firms and several of the world’s most valuable companies, the Bay Area is the place to go for anyone looking to make it big in the tech industry. That said, San Francisco has a lot to offer beyond technology thanks to a thriving art and music scene, excellent food and a short drive to several of the country’s most beautiful recreational areas.

Key Facts About San Francisco Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
  • Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
  • Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account