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Robotics Software Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Strong C++, Python skills & expertise in ROS or similar robotics software framework * Deep and current knowledge of robotics autonomy, including motion planning, localization, navigation, and sensor ...

Robotics Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$155K - $205K/yr

Strong proficiency in robotics hardware/software stacks (e.g., ROS/ROS2) and programming languages (e.g., Python, C++). * Demonstrated experience implementing and evaluating end-to-end robot learning ...

Senior Software Engineer

Seattle, WA

$139K - $183K/yr

ABOUT THE JOB As a Robotics Software Engineer on our TRS team, you'll be at the forefront of cutting-edge autonomous systems development. You'll tackle diverse challenges in autonomy, systems ...

Senior Software Engineer

Seattle, WA

$139K - $183K/yr

ABOUT THE JOB As a Robotics Software Engineer on our TRS team, you'll be at the forefront of cutting-edge autonomous systems development. You'll tackle diverse challenges in autonomy, systems ...

Senior Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$139K - $183K/yr

ABOUT THE JOB As a Robotics Software Engineer on our TRS team, you'll be at the forefront of cutting-edge autonomous systems development. You'll tackle diverse challenges in autonomy, systems ...

Strong C++, Python skills & expertise in ROS or similar robotics software framework * Deep and current knowledge of robotics autonomy, including motion planning, localization, navigation, and sensor ...

Senior Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$139K - $183K/yr

ABOUT THE JOB As a Robotics Software Engineer on our TRS team, you'll be at the forefront of cutting-edge autonomous systems development. You'll tackle diverse challenges in autonomy, systems ...

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Robotics Software information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$68.3K

$141.7K

$203.7K

How much do robotics software jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for robotics software in Seattle, WA is $141,711.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,400.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Robotics Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Robotics Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (especially in C++ and Python), a solid background in algorithms, control systems, and a relevant degree in computer science, robotics, or engineering. Familiarity with robotics middleware (such as ROS), simulation tools (like Gazebo), and version control systems is typically required, and certifications in robotics or machine learning can be advantageous. Problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating on complex projects and debugging intricate systems. These skills and qualities ensure the development of reliable, innovative robotic solutions that meet real-world needs and function safely.

Which 5 jobs will survive AI?

Robotics software engineers are likely to continue thriving as AI advances because they design and develop complex systems that require specialized programming, problem-solving, and understanding of hardware integration. Jobs involving creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and hands-on technical skills—such as robotics technicians, AI safety specialists, and systems architects—are also expected to persist. These roles often require continuous learning and expertise in tools like programming languages, simulation software, and hardware troubleshooting.

How much do robotic programmers make?

Robotic programmers typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Skilled programmers with knowledge of robotics frameworks and programming languages like C++ or Python tend to have higher salaries, especially in advanced manufacturing or research environments.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior robotics software engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills in programming languages like C++ and Python, and expertise in AI, machine learning, or automation can earn $300,000 or more annually. Such roles often require advanced degrees, leadership responsibilities, and work in high-tech industries or specialized research environments.

What is the difference between Robotics Software vs Robotics Engineer?

AspectRobotics SoftwareRobotics Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS, Software Engineering, or related; programming skillsBachelor's or higher in Robotics, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering; programming and hardware knowledge
Work EnvironmentSoftware development teams, labs, simulation environmentsDesign, build, test robotic systems; often in labs or manufacturing settings
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, research labs, automation firmsManufacturing, automation, research institutions

Robotics Software focuses on developing the code and algorithms that enable robots to perform tasks, primarily working in software development environments. Robotics Engineers design and build robotic systems, integrating hardware and software. While both roles require programming skills, Robotics Software specialists concentrate on coding, whereas Robotics Engineers handle system design and integration.

What are robotics software engineers?

Robotics software engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain the software that controls and powers robotic systems. They work on programming robots to perform specific tasks, integrating sensors and actuators, and ensuring that robots can interact safely and effectively with their environment. Their role often involves using programming languages like C++, Python, and ROS (Robot Operating System), as well as collaborating with hardware engineers and other specialists to create functional and intelligent robots.

What are some common challenges faced by robotics software engineers when integrating hardware and software components?

Robotics software engineers often encounter challenges when ensuring that software systems interact reliably with diverse hardware components, such as sensors, actuators, and controllers. Synchronizing real-time data processing, handling latency, and troubleshooting hardware-software mismatches can require creative problem-solving and thorough testing. Collaboration with mechanical and electrical engineers is essential, as is staying up-to-date with evolving robotics frameworks and communication protocols. Effective documentation and version control are also crucial to manage complex integration efforts.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior robotics software engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in AI, machine learning, or embedded systems, and often working in high-demand industries or companies can earn salaries around $500,000. Achieving this level typically requires advanced degrees, leadership roles, or equity compensation in addition to base salary.
Member of Technical Staff, Microsoft Robotics (Software Systems)

Member of Technical Staff, Microsoft Robotics (Software Systems)

Microsoft

Redmond, WA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


Microsoft rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 125 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

48th of 190 rated software companies


Job description

Overview
Microsoft's Discovery and Quantum (MDQ) division develops and delivers advanced artificial intelligence (AI), cloud-enabled capabilities, and strategic technologies to help solve the world's major challenges. From accelerating scientific discovery with advanced AI tools, to pioneering breakthroughs in quantum computing, to advancing robotics and AI capabilities that drive real-world impact, joining MDQ means building the future, partnering with fast-moving innovators, and operating in a high-impact, mission-driven environment.
At Microsoft Robotics within MDQ, we build and deploy technologies that enable people, robots, and AI agents to collaborate and achieve more.
We are building Microsoft's platform for physical intelligence-an integrated robotics software and AI platform that brings together humans, robots, and agents through robotics AI models, innovative teaming solutions and experiences, physically grounded agentic AI workflows, trustworthy test and evaluation, and real-world customer-focused validation. Built on Microsoft's core platforms and delivered through and with a global ecosystem of partners and customers, this platform accelerates AI for the physical world and helps robotics solutions move from experimentation to reliable, scaled deployment.
We are hiring a Member of Technical Staff, Microsoft Robotics (Software Systems) at the Principal level to design and build core infrastructure components of the Microsoft Robotics platform, including the Software Development Kits (SDKs), cloud services, edge runtimes, developer tooling, and agent orchestration layers that enable people, AI agents, and robots to operate together across end-to-end mission workflows. This is an engineering role where you will make foundational architectural decisions that shape how the entire platform scales, how partners integrate, and how autonomy capabilities are composed and deployed.
Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
#MicrosoftRobotics #MDQ
Responsibilities
  • Architect and implement core platform components, including robotics SDKs, cloud-hosted Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), edge runtimes, and agent orchestration frameworks that enable developers and partners to compose interoperable autonomy capabilities (perception, planning, control, multi-agent coordination) into deployable mission workflows.
  • Design the platform's extensibility and integration architecture, defining how first-party autonomy capabilities, first- and third-party models, partner hardware systems, and customer-specific logic are composed, versioned, tested, and deployed across cloud and edge environments.
  • Build production-grade data infrastructure spanning the full robotics lifecycle including instrumentation libraries, data acquisition services, human-in-the-loop workflows, dataset versioning and curation pipelines, and data quality governance supporting both real-world and synthetic/simulated data at scale.
  • Own cross-cutting platform concerns including authentication and authorization across cloud-edge boundaries, API versioning and backward compatibility, multi-tenant isolation, and performance at the latencies required by real-time robotic control loops.
  • Drive the developer experience for the Microsoft Robotics platform, to include defining the Command Line Interface (CLI), SDK patterns, documentation strategy, sample code, and inner-loop development workflow that make it fast and reliable for internal teams and external partners to build on the platform.
  • Collaborate with autonomy, simulation, and evaluation teams to ensure that platform primitives (compute orchestration, data routing, model serving, experiment tracking) meet the performance, reliability, and reproducibility requirements of Machine Learning (ML) training, sim-to-real transfer, and online evaluation workloads.
  • Lead technical design reviews, write architecture decision records, and establish engineering practices for the platform team, mentoring senior engineers and raising the bar for code quality, testing, and operational readiness across the organization.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR equivalent experience.

Other Requirements:
  • Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements is required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:
    • Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR equivalent experience.
  • 6+ years of experience designing and building developer platforms, SDKs, APIs, or distributed infrastructure used by multiple teams or external partners, with demonstrable ownership of cross-team technical decisions and architecture.
  • Deep expertise in cloud-native systems engineering - including microservice architecture, containerized workloads (Kubernetes), service mesh, API gateway patterns, and CI/CD at scale - preferably on Azure.
  • Proficiency in C++, Rust, or Go for systems-level components AND Python for tooling, data pipelines, and ML integration, with high standards for code quality, testing, and performance.
  • Demonstrated ability to make and communicate architectural trade-offs across competing concerns (latency vs. throughput, flexibility vs. safety, developer velocity vs. operational complexity), with a track record of decisions that held up at scale.
  • Experience with robotics middleware (Robot Operating System (ROS)/ROS2), real-time systems, or edge computing platforms, including the unique constraints of deploying software to physically embodied systems with strict latency and safety requirements.
  • Familiarity with ML infrastructure including model serving (Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX), TensorRT, Triton), training orchestration, experiment tracking, or feature stores, particularly in the context of deploying learned models to edge devices.
  • Experience building simulation infrastructure, digital twin platforms, or CI-based testing pipelines that incorporate physics-based simulation for validation and regression testing.
  • Prior work designing multi-tenant platforms with partner-facing APIs, including developer portal experiences, API versioning strategies, and backward-compatibility guarantees.
  • Understanding of agentic AI architectures, including agent orchestration, tool use, multi-agent coordination, and human-in-the-loop workflows, and how they apply to physical systems.
  • Contributions to open-source robotics, cloud, or developer tooling projects, or published work on platform architecture, robotics systems, or distributed systems.

Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800.00 - $274,800.00 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000.00 - $304,200.00 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

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About Microsoft

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 100 datacenters and 1 million servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our datacenter design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Redmond, WA, US

Year founded

1975

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