Lead Software Engineer, AI & Robotics Test Infrastructure

About the company RoboForce is an AI robotics company developing Physical AI-powered Robo-Labor for dull, dirty, and dangerous work. The company's robots are engineered for demanding industrial environments, with a focus on real-world deployment and scalability. At RoboForce, test engineers build the scalable infrastructure, automation engines, and CI/CD pipelines that empower all engineering disciplines to test code continuously and rigorously. About the role We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer, Robotics Test Infrastructure to architect the overarching validation framework for our robot fleet from the ground up. This is a massive-scope, highly hands-on Technical Lead / Principal IC role — acting as the principal technical authority connecting software, embedded, simulation, ML, and manufacturing teams. You will design and build the core test execution software orchestrating E2E simulation runs, HIL physical testing, ML model regression pipelines, and EOL factory validation. Responsibilities - Design, build, and maintain a modular, scalable test execution engine (Python/C++) that standardizes how tests are written, triggered, and reported across the company - Partner with the Autonomy and AI teams to build automated ML evaluation pipelines for testing non-deterministic models (vision, perception, manipulation) - Collaborate with Simulation and Cloud teams to integrate the test framework with physics engines for E2E autonomy and navigation tests in CI/CD - Build the software layer controlling Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) rigs and develop profiling tools to benchmark compute load, memory, and real-time performance - Package the test framework into operator-friendly formats (GUIs, automated pass/fail scripts) for factory floor EOL validation - Actively participate in cross-functional design reviews, enforcing strict testability standards and pushing back on tightly coupled designs - Mentor feature developers on automated testing best practices and drive a culture of rigorous, software-defined validation Requirements - 6+ years of software engineering experience building test infrastructure, automation frameworks, or CI/CD tooling for complex systems (robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace) - Expert-level Python (OOP, system architecture, Pytest) and strong C++ proficiency (Google Test, Catch2) - Deep experience with Linux, bash scripting, containerization (Docker), and CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Buildkite) - Strong systems-level thinking with ability to diagnose complex integration failures at the software/hardware boundary - Familiarity with testing AI/ML models or robotics perception stacks at scale - B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent - 5 days/week in-office at Milpitas, CA headquarters Nice to have - Experience with ROS 2, eCAL, or custom pub/sub robotics middleware - Experience building test reporting dashboards (Grafana, Foxglove, or custom web interfaces) Benefits & perks - Competitive stock options and equity programs - Health, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) plan - Visa sponsorship and green card support for qualified candidates - Lunches, dinners, fully stocked kitchen, and regular team-building events Compensation Not specified. Competitive equity and benefits package offered.