Freelance Robotics Software Engineer Jobs in Gainesville, FL

Rovex is building autonomous robots that help hospitals operate more efficiently so healthcare professionals can focus on what matters most: patient care. Our robots automate routine tasks such as patient transportation, logistics, and environmental monitoring, enabling healthcare systems to improve efficiency while enhancing the patient experience.

We're a fast-growing robotics startup bringing together experts in robotics, AI, and healthcare to solve real-world problems. Our team works hands‑on across hardware and software, rapidly iterating from prototype to deployment in close collaboration with hospital partners.

If you're excited about building complex robotic systems, taking ownership, and seeing your work deployed in the real world, we'd love to hear from you.

We are looking for a hands‑on Senior Autonomous Robotics Engineer to help productionize and scale Rovex's autonomy stack as we deploy robotic fleets into dynamic, high‑stakes hospital environments.

This is a senior individual contributor and mentorship role. You'll work closely with our existing autonomy team to make key technical decisions, improve system architecture, and help build reliable, production‑ready autonomy systems. Your work will bridge the gap between core software algorithms and physical execution, accelerating Rovex's path from early deployments to commercial scale.

We are specifically looking for someone who has successfully deployed autonomous mobile robots in commercial environments at meaningful scale. The ideal candidate has helped bring 25+ autonomous robots into commercial operation and has firsthand experience solving the reliability, navigation, and operational challenges that emerge after robots leave the lab.

• Help shape Rovex's autonomy roadmap, make key architectural decisions, mentor existing autonomy engineers, and guide the team toward reliable, production‑ready systems.

• Architect and deploy robust autonomy software that maximizes hardware performance while emphasizing reliability, maintainability, and observability in dynamic hospital environments.

• Solve challenging autonomy problems beyond basic point‑to‑point navigation, including crowded hallways, elevators, doorways, temporary obstacles, localization degradation, and other real‑world deployment scenarios.

• Develop logging, telemetry, health monitoring, and diagnostic tools that enable rapid failure analysis, remote support, and reliable fleet operations.

• Design fault‑tolerant autonomous systems and collaborate closely with software, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineers to ensure safe, dependable operation around patients and healthcare staff.

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent industry experience).
• Typically 5+ years of professional experience developing autonomous robotic systems in industry.
• Experience deploying autonomous mobile robots in commercial environments, ideally including responsibility for fleets of 25+ robots operating successfully in the field.
• Demonstrated experience solving real‑world autonomy challenges involving navigation, localization, reliability, and field debugging after deployment.
• Strong technical leadership skills with experience making architectural decisions while remaining a hands‑on engineer.
• Passion for solving real‑world robotics problems and building technology that directly improves hospital operations and patient care.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced startup environment with a strong sense of ownership.

• Proven experience building reliable autonomy systems and debugging complex field failures in commercial deployments.

• Deep technical strength in one or more core autonomy disciplines such as localization, navigation, perception, planning, or safety, with practical experience deploying systems in real‑world environments.

• Strong proficiency in C++, Python, Linux, and ROS/ROS2, along with simulation and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing platforms.

• Experience using logging, telemetry, and diagnostic tools to identify, reproduce, and resolve complex issues across deployed robotic fleets.

• Has successfully brought autonomous robots from development into commercial operation.
• Prioritizes shipping reliable, production‑ready systems over impressive demonstrations.
• Builds maintainable, observable systems and avoids one‑off fixes whenever possible.
• Comfortable working across software, sensors, controls, electrical, and mechanical systems to solve complex robotics challenges.
• Excellent communicator who enjoys mentoring teammates and collaborating across engineering disciplines.
• Excited by the opportunity to own difficult technical problems and help accelerate the commercialization of healthcare robotics.

• Base Salary: $140,000-200,000, commensurate with experience.
• Equity: Eligible for stock options.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Opportunity to take technical ownership of mission‑critical autonomy systems.
• Work alongside a world‑class robotics team solving meaningful real‑world healthcare challenges.
• Help shape the future of autonomous robotics in healthcare from an early‑stage company.