Founding robotics engineer

We're building robots that can operate in the real world — not demos, not controlled environments, but actual complex terrain where things go wrong and the system has to figure it out.

Torsei AI is developing autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for defense and dual-use applications. We're early, moving fast, and looking for the kind of engineer who wants to build something — not inherit a codebase and maintain it.

What this role actually is
You'd be one of the first engineers here. That means you'll have real influence over how we build things — the architecture, the stack, the field testing process, all of it. You won't be handed a ticket queue. You'll be helping figure out what needs to get built and then building it.
The work lives at the intersection of software, hardware, sensors, and the outdoors. If you've ever wanted a job where your code eventually has to survive contact with dirt, dust, and uneven ground — this is it.

What you'll be working on
Day to day, you'll be building and integrating the autonomy stack — navigation, localization, SLAM, perception, mission planning. You'll work with LiDAR, cameras, IMUs, GPS, and radar, and you'll spend time in both simulation (Gazebo, Isaac Sim) and in the field validating that what works in sim actually works on the vehicle.
You'll also be the kind of person who helps set the engineering standards early — because decisions made now will outlast everyone's first sprint.

The technical baseline we're looking for
Strong with ROS 2, C++, and Python. Comfortable on Linux. Experience with sensor fusion, path planning, and perception pipelines. Familiarity with simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
Bonus if you've worked on UGVs, drones, mobile robots, embedded systems, or anything in defense or aerospace — but we're more interested in how you think and build than in ticking every box.

Honestly, who this is for
Someone who gets restless working on problems that aren't hard enough. Someone who can work independently but communicates well. Someone who cares about robotics and autonomy not just as a career but as something genuinely interesting.
Startup experience helps, but the mindset matters more: you own your work, you move fast, and you're not waiting for someone else to unblock you.

Why Torsei AI
Early stage means real equity, real ownership, and real decisions — not a pre-assigned lane. You'll work directly with the founder and help define what the company looks like technically and culturally.
We're building something that hasn't been built before. If that sounds like the right kind of challenge, we'd like to talk.