Robotics Software Lead - Construction

Every day, our team members do amazing things in pursuit of our shared purpose to build trust with our clients, partners, subcontractors, and teammates. No matter your background, education, or career path, if you share our vision to create extraordinary experiences, you belong at HITT.

Job Description:

TheRoboticsSoftwareLeadisresponsibleforsettingthetechnicaldirectionforHITT’sroboticssoftwareteamandleadingthedevelopmentofsystemsdesignedforcomplex,dynamic,andunstructuredconstructionjobsites.Thisroleguidesinitiativesacrossthefulldevelopmentlifecycle,fromproof-of-conceptprototypesthroughscaledfielddeployment.Asahands-on,product-mindedengineeringleader,theRoboticsSoftwareLeadownsthesoftwarestack,managesandmentorsengineers,coordinatesstrategicco-developmentpartnerships,supportstheroboticsR&Ddevelopmentroadmap,andestablishesthearchitecture,infrastructure,andengineeringpracticesthatempowertheteamtoexperimentquicklyandscalesuccessfulsolutions.

ThisteammemberreportstotheRoboticsLeadandispartofHITT’sRoboticsTeam,whichleadsresearchanddevelopment,pilotprograms,andfull-timefielddeployments.TheRoboticsTeam’smissionistosupportourprojectteams,transformourindustry,andbringrobotstoeveryjobsite.

Theidealcandidatehasledsoftwareteamsthathavedevelopedanddeployedcomplexroboticssystemsindemandingreal-worldenvironments.Theyareequallycomfortablemovingquicklytovalidateanearlyconceptwhileapplyingtheengineeringdisciplinerequiredtomatureaprototypeintoareliable,safe,andmaintainablefieldsystem.Theycombinesystems-levelfieldroboticsexpertisewithaproductmindset,clearprojectleadership,andapracticalunderstandingofthe tradeoffs and dependencies among software, sensors, compute, networking, controls, mechanical hardware, and field operations.Thisroleofferstheopportunitytodefineafoundationalsoftwareplatform,growahigh-performingengineeringteam,anddirectlyinfluencehowHITTdevelopsanddeploysroboticsinthefield.

We encourage strong candidates excited by this role to apply even if they do not match every technical qualification listed.

RESPONSIBILITIES

TechnicalLeadership

• Own the architecture and technical direction of the robotics software stack, including system interfaces, design standards, and technical review practices.

• Ownthesoftwareinfrastructurethatsupportsdevelopment,simulation,automatedtesting,continuousintegrationanddelivery,deployment,observability,datacollection,andfleetsupport.

• Guidetechnicaldecisionsacrossautonomy,perception,manipulation,operatorinterfaces,embeddedcompute,networking,simulation,andcloud-connectedservices.

• Leadeffortstointegrateandextendthird-partytechnologiesviaAPIs,SDKs,middleware,andothersoftwareinterfaces.

• Ensuresoftwaredesignsaccountforsafety,cybersecurity,maintainability,degradedoperatingmodes,andtheenvironmentalconstraintsofactiveconstructionsites.

• EstablishstandardsforAI-assistedandagenticsoftwaredevelopment,includinghumanreview,automatedtesting,evaluation,andappropriatetechnicalguardrails.

• Remainahands-ontechnicalcontributorincludingarchitecturereviews,codereviews, prototyping,systemintegration,anddiagnosisofdifficultcross-stackissues.

• Travelto active construction sites and participatedirectly in testing, deployment, and operational support.

TeamLeadershipandDelivery

• Lead,manage,andmentorateamofsoftwareengineers,settingclearexpectationsandsupportingtheirtechnicalandprofessionaldevelopment.

• Coordinateday-to-dayR&Dworkbytranslatingprioritiesintoactionableplans,assigningownership,trackingdependencies,andresolvingblockers.

• Establishengineeringplans,milestones,releasecriteria,andqualityexpectationsformultipleconcurrentroboticsinitiatives.

• Useproductmanagementpracticestotranslateuserneeds,fieldobservations,andbusinessprioritiesintorequirements,backlogs,experiments,andreleaseplans.

• Promotedisciplinedsoftwareengineeringpractices,includingdocumentation,versioncontrol,automatedtesting,CI/CD,configurationmanagement,andreproducibledevelopmentenvironments.

• Supportteamgrowththroughthoughtfulstaffing,onboarding,feedback,andknowledgesharing.

PartnershipsandCross-FunctionalCoordination

• Leadthe technical delivery of co-developmentinitiativeswithtechnologypartnersandvendors,includingdefining scope,interfaces,milestones,risks,acceptancecriteria,andownership.

• Evaluatethird-partytechnologiesandrecommendwhenHITTshouldbuild,buy,adapt,orpartnerbasedontechnicalfit,lifecyclecost,schedule,risk,andsupportability.

• Coordinatesoftwareprioritiesandintegrationworkwithhardwareengineering,fieldtesting,projectteams,operations,informationtechnology,cybersecurity,andotherdepartments.

ResearchandDevelopmentRoadmap

• SupportthedevelopmentandexecutionoftheR&Dtechnicalroadmapbyidentifyingsoftwarecapabilities,dependencies,resourceneeds,technicalrisks,andvalidationplans.

• Planandoverseestructuredtestinginthelabandonactiveconstructionprojects, then use test results and operational feedback toprioritize engineering work and guide product decisions.

• Supportdeployedsystemsthroughremoteandon-sitetroubleshooting,root-causeanalysis,correctiveactions,andimprovementstomonitoringandsupportprocesses.

• Documentarchitectures,interfaces,testresults,deploymentprocedures,andlessonslearnedsosolutionscanbesupportedandscaled.

REQUIREDQUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’sdegreeinrobotics,computerscience,softwareengineering,electricalengineering,mechanicalengineering,orrelatedfield,advanceddegreepreferred.

• 5+yearsofexperienceinroboticssoftwaredevelopment,includingdemonstratedexperienceleadingsoftwareengineeringteamsthatdevelopedanddeployedcomplexfieldrobotics applicationsinreal-worldenvironments.

• Experienceapplyingproductmanagementpracticestodefinerequirements,prioritizeroadmapsandbacklogs,planreleases,andincorporateend-userfeedback.

• ProficiencyinC++,Python,andLinux-basedroboticsdevelopmentandsystem-leveltroubleshooting.

• Experienceapplyingmodernsoftware-engineeringpractices,includingversioncontrol(e.g.,Git),automatedtesting,CI/CDpipelines,andcontainerization(e.g.,Docker).

• ExperienceworkingwithAPIs/SDKs,open-sourcesoftwarepackages,andtechnicalstandardstobringtogetherdisparatetechnologycomponentsintoareliablesolution.

• FluencywithAI-assistedandagenticsoftwaredevelopment(e.g.,ClaudeCode,GitHubCopilot,Cursor).

• Experienceleadingexternalpartnersorvendorsthroughco-development,integration,technicalprojectmanagement,andacceptancetesting.

• Abilitytocommunicatecomplextechnicaltopics,decisions,risks,andplansclearlytotechnicalandnontechnicalaudiences.

PREFERREDQUALIFICATIONS

• Experiencedevelopingroboticsystemsforconstruction,manufacturing,logistics,agriculture,mining,defense,orotherdemandingreal-worldenvironments.

• Experiencewithmobilerobotautonomy,perception,SLAM,navigation,manipulation,motionplanning,controls,orteleoperation.

• Experiencedevelopinglow-latencyteleoperationsystemsthatintegratereal-timevideo,command,andtelemetrystreams,includinggracefuldegradationamidintermittentconnectivity.

• Experienceintegratingcameras,LiDAR,GNSS,IMUs,actuators,embeddedcomputers,GPU-acceleratedperception,andotherroboticsensingandcontrolhardware.

• Experienceusingroboticssimulationenvironments(e.g.,Gazebo,NVIDIAIsaacSim,Unity)totrain,test,andvalidateroboticsystemsusingReal-to-SimandSim-to-Realpipelines.

• ExperiencedevelopingroboticsystemsusingRobotOperatingSystem2(ROS2)andcomparableroboticsmiddleware.

• Experiencedevelopingcloud-connectedroboticssoftware(e.g.,Azure,AzureDevOps,AWS),web-basedoperatorinterfaces(e.g.,React,JavaScript/TypeScript),andreal-timevideo-streamingpipelines(e.g.,GStreamer).

In accordance with Virginia Senate Bill 215 (SB 215), the base salary range for this position is:

$120,000.00 - $175,000.00

Compensation in other cities and states may vary. HITT Contracting offers a competitive total benefits and compensation package including performance-based bonuses, premium health care coverage including vision and dental, employer-matched 401(k), wellness reimbursement program, paid holidays and time-off, and other voluntary benefits and leave types. The determination of salary is based on the candidate’s individual professional experience, qualifications, education, skills, and training.

HITT Contracting is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring and developing the most qualified individuals based on job-related experience, skills, and merit. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We value a respectful, inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. HITT Contracting maintains a drug-free workplace, consistent with applicable local, state, and federal laws.