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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Robotic Software Engineer - (Senior, Staff, Lead) Manipulation - **Company:** Ghost Inc - **Location:** Philadelphia, PA, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $110,000.0 - $185,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Bullet (Software), C++ (Programming Language), Continuous Integration, Software Debugging, Dynamical Systems, Middleware, Python (Programming Language), Kinematics, Machine Learning, Language Modeling, Motion Planning, Real-Time Operating Systems, Software Tools, Software Construction, Reinforcement Learning, Information Technology, C++14, Software Version Control - **Published:** June 12, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=61b838317372302a ## About the Role Do you have experience in Version control systems?, Do you have a Master's degree?, * 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 Requirements: 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)., * 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, * Prolonged periods of standing, sitting at a desk and working on a computer. * Must be able to lift 10 pounds. Assistive equipment available ## Description 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., * 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, Philadelphia, PA (no remote candidates considered at this time). 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