Freelance Robotics Software Engineer Jobs in Bluffton, SC

Destro AI is building the intelligence layer for robotics the system that tells robots and humans what to do across complex real-world operations.

Founded by former leaders from HAI Robotics, Dexterity, and Matic, Destro is built on a simple thesis: robotics has solved movement, but not decision-making.

At the core of Destro is MothershipOS a centralized brain that coordinates robots, humans, and workflows in real time. Unlike traditional systems that rely on local intelligence on each robot, Destro brings global intelligence across the entire operation.

We recently closed our Seed round at one of the highest valuations for a robotics company at this stage, and are already working with large enterprise operators to deploy real systems in production environments.

This is a hands-on, on-site role at a live customer facility in Sumner, WA.

You are the person who keeps our robots running. When a fleet is operating through the night and something goes wrong, you are the one on the floor diagnosing it, fixing it, and getting production back up. You will deploy and commission new systems, keep the existing fleet healthy, train the warehouse associates who work alongside our robots every day, and act as the eyes and ears of our engineering team inside a real operation.

This is not a desk job and it is not a remote job. You will be on the warehouse floor, on your feet, working nights. In exchange, you get to work on real robotic systems at an early-stage company where what you report from the field directly changes the product.

As we grow the site and add more deployments, you will train the technicians who come after you.

• Deploy and commission Destro's robotic systems on-site unboxing, assembly, charging infrastructure, network setup, and configuration
• Support site mapping, zone setup, and workflow configuration for new deployments
• Execute acceptance testing and validate systems against defined performance criteria before go-live

• Run functional, integration, and end-to-end tests on robots and the MothershipOS platform
• Validate robot behavior against expected workflows and document deviations
• Verify software updates and configuration changes in the live environment before and after rollout

• Monitor the robot fleet through the MothershipOS dashboard throughout your shift
• Respond to and resolve robot exceptions in real time blocked paths, failed picks, navigation faults, charging faults, connectivity drops
• Triage issues quickly to keep throughput and uptime targets on track
• Track exception patterns and recurring failures rather than just clearing them one by one

• Execute scheduled preventive maintenance on the robot fleet inspections, cleaning, sensor calibration, wheel and drive checks, battery health
• Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical faults
• Manage spare parts inventory and coordinate replacements
• Maintain accurate maintenance logs and service records for every unit

• Train warehouse associates on how to work safely and effectively alongside our robots
• Deliver refresher training as workflows change and new associates join
• Build and maintain SOPs, quick-reference guides, and troubleshooting documentation for the site
• Train and onboard new Destro technicians as the team grows, and serve as their point of escalation

• Escalate issues you cannot resolve on-site to the engineering team with clear, complete diagnostic detail logs, reproduction steps, photos or video, and site context
• Work with remote engineers to reproduce, diagnose, and verify fixes
• Feed field learnings back into the product so the same failure does not happen at the next site

• 2+ years of hands-on technical experience with robotics, automation, material handling equipment, or comparable electromechanical systems
• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting instincts you can isolate a problem across mechanical, electrical, network, and software layers
• Comfortable working independently on a night shift, often as the only technical person on site
• Able to stay calm and methodical when production is down and people are waiting on you
• Clear communicator who can explain a technical issue to a warehouse associate and to a software engineer, in the right language for each
• Genuinely good at teaching you will be training associates and, later, other technicians
• Comfortable in a warehouse environment: on your feet for extended periods, lifting up to 50 lbs, working around powered industrial equipment
• Reliable and safety-first. High ownership mindset

• Experience with AMRs, AGVs, ASRS, sortation systems, or robotic picking systems
• Experience working inside a distribution center, fulfillment center, or 3PL operation
• Familiarity with Linux command line, networking basics (IP addressing, Wi-Fi troubleshooting, switches and access points), and reading system logs
• Experience with fleet management or robot monitoring dashboards
• Experience writing SOPs or training material
• Associate degree or technical certification in robotics, mechatronics, industrial maintenance, electronics, or a related field or equivalent military or hands-on experience
• Prior experience training or leading other technicians
• Forklift or powered industrial equipment certification