Robotic Software Engineer - (Senior, Staff, Lead) Manipulation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Ghost Robotics Corporation

We're a robotics company building autonomous systems that operate in complex, dynamic environments. We're hiring a Manipulation Engineer to design, implement, and deploy manipulation algorithms for arms mounted on dynamic legged robots operating in the real world. You'll build task and motion planning, grasping, and control pipelines in real-time software, and own their performance all the way down to hardware. This role suits engineers who thrive on high-velocity problem solving, deep technical ownership, and hands-on testing and validation.

How leveling works This is one role, open at the Senior, Staff, or Lead level. The responsibilities below reflect the core of the role at every level. You don't need to decide which level fits you before applying. The selected candidate will be placed at the level commensurate with the skills, scope, and experience they demonstrate through the interview process, and the offer will align with that level. Senior and Staff are individual-contributor positions. Lead carries the same technical scope plus people-leadership responsibilities, for candidates who want them.

What you'll do (all levels)

• Architect end-to-end manipulation frameworks, from high-level task planning down to perception and low-level joint control
• Develop trajectory planning, obstacle avoidance, and real-time motion generation
• Implement grasping strategies using proprioception and vision, for rigid and deformable objects
• Use physics-based simulators to develop and validate manipulation policies with high-fidelity transfer to hardware
• Write clean, maintainable C++ and Python, and debug system performance across simulation, hardware experiments, and fleet data
• Collaborate with mechanical, perception, embedded, and systems teams to ensure end-to-end performance and robustness
• Contribute to long-term architectural decisions

Senior Manipulation Engineer

• Typically reached with 5+ years of relevant experience, or 3+ years following a PhD
• Owns a defined technical area of the manipulation stack and delivers independently end to end
• Mentors less-experienced engineers
• Track record of shipping manipulation software to real hardware

Staff Manipulation Engineer

• Typically reached with 8+ years of relevant experience
• Drives technical direction and architecture across the team's area
• Sets engineering standards and multiplies the output of others
• Demonstrated influence beyond their own deliverables, across teams or an entire manipulation stack

Lead Manipulation Engineer

• Typically reached with 10+ years of relevant experience, including experience guiding engineers
• Staff-level technical scope plus people-leadership responsibilities: direct reports, hiring, performance, and team planning
• Demonstrated ability to grow engineers and run a healthy, productive team

Core qualifications (all levels)

• A strong background in robotic manipulation, with hands-on experience on multi-DOF arms in real systems. We weigh what you've built and shipped over where your degree is from. An advanced degree in Robotics, Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace Engineering, CS, or a related field is one path in. Equivalent industry experience is another.
• Strong foundations in motion planning, control theory, optimization, and dynamical systems
• Deep understanding of coordinate transformations, forward/inverse kinematics, Jacobians, and robot dynamics
• Experience with motion planning tools (e.g., MoveIt, OMPL, or custom optimization-based planners)
• Experience with multi-body dynamics, modeling, and simulation (e.g., MuJoCo, Gazebo, Isaac, Bullet/PyBullet)
• Experience with ROS 2 and real-time middleware
• Proficiency in modern C++ (C++17/20) and Python
• Experience with Unix/Linux environments and software engineering best practices (version control, CI/CD)
• Master’s or PhD in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in robotic manipulation, specifically with multi-DOF (Degree of Freedom) arms.
• Strong foundations in motion planning, control theory and optimization, along with experience in dynamical systems.
• Deep understanding of coordinate transformations, forward/inverse kinematics, Jacobians, and robot dynamics.
• Experience with motion planning software tools (e.g., MoveIt, OMPL, or custom optimization-based planners).
• Experience with multi-body dynamics, modeling, and simulation (e.g., MuJoCo, Gazebo, Isaac, Bullet/PyBullet).
• Experience with ROS 2 and real-time middleware.
• Proficiency in modern C++ (C++17/20) and Python for development and tooling.
• Experience with Unix/Linux environments and software engineering best practices (version control, CI/CD).

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with legged or humanoid robots
• Experience applying Reinforcement Learning, Vision Language Models, or Vision-Language-Action models to robotic decision-making and task planning
• Familiarity with 3D perception, point cloud processing, and vision-based feedback in manipulation loops
• Background in whole-body control frameworks (operational space control, MPC, and similar)
• Experience with force-feedback control or hand-eye calibration
• Publications or significant open-source contributions in robotics or machine learning
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical efforts and mentor engineers

What we offer

• Work with state-of-the-art robots in challenging real-world environments
• Hands-on hardware experience alongside strong software and simulation infrastructure
• A collaborative, technically rigorous culture with emphasis on learning and ownership
• Access to real robots, real data, and real impact
• The anticipated starting base salary for this position is $140,000 to $185,000 per year, placed by level as described above

Location

Philadelphia, PA (no remote candidates considered at this time). Opportunities to work from home with prior approval.

Travel

No travel required.

Compensation

Competitive base, full benefits and highly motivating equity incentive package. Flexible time-off policy. Focus on output and ability to work with a stellar team of interdisciplinary functions.

Background Check

Clear standard background checks, pre-hire, post hire and anytime during employment as required.

Residency Requirements

Permanent Residency Required.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of standing, sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 10 pounds. Assistive equipment available