Forward Deployed Engineer, Robotics
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 27, 2026. First seen by Alion on Aug 11, 2026.
About OpenMind
OpenMind is building the software that enables intelligent robots to perceive, understand, and operate in the physical world.
We develop and deploy AI-powered robotics solutions across diverse industries and environments. We're looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer who can take a robot from a working prototype to a reliable system in the field. You'll work directly with customers and our engineering team, solving problems across software, autonomy, and hardware-and taking responsibility for making the whole system work.
What you Will Do
Own customer deployments end-to-end, from understanding requirements and preparing robots to on-site integration, testing, and ongoing improvements.
Write and debug software that connects robot hardware, sensors, autonomy systems, and customer workflows.
Diagnose and resolve real-world failures across software, networking, compute, sensors, and mechanical and electrical components.
Build, modify, and repair hardware, using rapid prototyping tools to test ideas and solve deployment challenges.
Turn field observations into reproducible issues, practical engineering improvements, and reusable deployment tools.
Work directly with customers to communicate progress, explain technical trade-offs, and establish clear acceptance criteria.
Take considerable ownership in the field, including international travel and independent decision-making when conditions change.
What We're Looking for
You've built a robot yourself. You've designed, built, and tested a rover, drone, or fixed-wing aircraft in the real world. We want to understand what you built, the decisions you made, and what happened when you tested it.
You've written the software that makes it work. You have a GitHub repository containing software you wrote to control, guide, or make your robot autonomous, and you can explain its architecture and implementation.
You're ready for responsibility and international travel. This is a field role. You're comfortable owning deployments, working directly with customers, and troubleshooting in unfamiliar environments.
You're enthusiastic about learning across the full stack. You're willing to work across software, autonomy, and robotics hardware, including areas you haven't mastered yet.
You're comfortable with your hands. You're good at taking things apart, finding what's wrong, and fixing them.
Degrees, schools, and certifications don't matter to us. We care about what you've built, how you solve problems, and your ability to learn and deliver.
Work & Benefits
Full-time, based on-site in San Francisco, with international travel for field deployments
Considerable responsibility and ownership of real-world robotics projects
Unlimited PTO
Compensation: $130K - 180K
Offers Equity
Opportunity to build and deploy Physical AI solutions on real robots across diverse applications