---
title: 'Lead Robotics Engineer, Autonomy at Valinor Enterprises, Inc.'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/lead-robotics-engineer-autonomy-valinor-enterprises-inc-cookeville-yas6m5et6qc0'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-13'
---

# Lead Robotics Engineer, Autonomy at Valinor Enterprises, Inc.

- **Company:** Valinor Enterprises, Inc.
- **Location:** Cookeville, TN
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-06-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-13
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/valinor/d77d2f1b-961f-4c36-96ad-e753354e506b/application

**Skills:** C++, Python, Real-time systems, Embedded systems, Computer Vision, State Estimation, EKF, Factor Graphs, VIO, SLAM, Motion Planning, Path Planning, PID, MPC, PX4, ArduPilot, ROS, ROS2, Gazebo, Isaac Sim

> Valinor seeks a Lead Robotics Engineer to own the autonomy stack for defense applications, including computer vision, flight control, and robotic manipulation. The role involves architectural leadership, mentoring engineers, and driving systems from concept to field deployment.

## Job description

Valinor is a new type of defense and government tech company focused on solving the problems others don't. Our unique model of centralized go-to-market and decentralized engineering allows us to move with unparalleled efficiency to identify unmet needs, build right-sized solutions, and get products where they matter most - in the hands of users. Unlike others in the space, who focus on the flashy problems, Valinor exists to solve the quiet, unaddressed problems-the small but significant ones that lead to cracks in the country's strength, stability, and security. Backed by General Catalyst, Founders Fund, and Red Cell Partners, Valinor was founded in 2024 and has established strategic partnerships with Palantir, Anduril, and Helsing. We are building the dream team, and we want you on it.

## About the Role

Valinor Dispatch is seeking a Lead Robotics Engineer to own the autonomy stack end to end, from computer vision and flight control to robotic manipulation, behind its ruggedized, field-deployable UxS charging infrastructure for defense applications. This is a hands-on technical leadership role for someone who can set architectural direction, work shoulder-to-shoulder with mechanical, electrical, and software teams, and mentor a small group of engineers building the next generation of autonomous and robotic platforms. You'll drive the system from concept through field deployment and establish the technical standards the team will build on.

## What You'll Do

- Architect and own the full autonomy stack (perception, state estimation, planning, and control) across autonomous aerial platforms and robotic manipulators, from concept through field deployment.
- Lead integration and tuning of flight control software (PX4/ArduPilot-class or in-house controllers), including attitude and position loops for stability and reliable performance in real-world and contested environments.
- Design, develop, and bring up robotic arm systems including kinematics, dynamics, motion planning, and manipulation behaviors, with sim-to-real validation and on-hardware tuning.
- Develop computer vision and sensor-fusion pipelines (camera/IMU/LiDAR) for navigation, target detection, alignment, and autonomous docking and retention tasks.
- Work closely with mechanical, electrical, and software teams to ensure seamless integration of sensors, electronics, and electromechanical components into deployable systems.
- Establish standards for simulation, testing, and safe field operation. Drive technical direction through design reviews and architecture decisions.
- Mentor a small team of robotics and software engineers. Lead prototype bring-up, testing, and refinement in lab and field environments.

## What We're Looking For

- Bachelor's or Master's in Robotics, EE/ME, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.
- 5+ years of experience building robotics/autonomy systems, with 2+ years in a technical lead or team-lead capacity on mission-critical or fielded systems (defense, aerospace, drones, or similar).
- Strong proficiency in C++ and Python, with solid real-time and embedded systems fundamentals.
- Demonstrated depth across the full stack: perception/CV, state estimation (EKF/factor graphs, VIO/SLAM), motion and path planning, and control (PID through MPC).
- Hands-on experience with flight control stacks (PX4/ArduPilot or equivalent) and tuning controllers on real hardware.
- Experience designing and deploying 6DOF manipulation systems, including kinematics, motion planning (MoveIt/OMPL-class), and grasping.
- Proficiency with ROS/ROS2 and robotics simulation tooling (Gazebo, Isaac Sim, or similar), plus hardware-in-the-loop testing.
- Track record of shipping autonomous systems to the real world, not just simulation or research, with sound judgment on sim-to-real and field reliability.
- Robot learning (imitation/RL, VLA models), CUDA/edge deployment, and experience operating in rugged or contested environments a plus.

What Valinor Offers

- Competitive salary, equity packages, and benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance - fully covered for employees, 401(k), development stipends, among others.
- Unlimited PTO and two-week company holiday at the end of every calendar year.
- We are a pro-mental health and pro-family company - we actually encourage employees to spend time with themselves and their families. Valinor also provides fertility benefits to those just beginning that journey.
- Fun work environment - we like to laugh and take care of each other, but we also deeply respect the mission in front of us.

This role requires the candidate be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Active clearance preferred, but not required.

Valinor is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Valinor team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals, who together are disrupting industry norms by creating new paths towards the future of defense and government technology. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you are someone passionate about working on problems that have a real-world impact, we'd love to hear from you!

## About Valinor Enterprises, Inc.

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Valinor Enterprises is a new kind of defense and government technology company that builds and buys mission-critical technologies to solve unaddressed problems in national security.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A)
- **Headquarters**: Alexandria, Virginia, United States (with offices in Washington, DC; Fort Worth, TX; New York, NY; and presence in South Korea)
- **Founded**: 2024
- **Founders**: Julie Bush (Co-Founder & CEO) and Paul Kwan (Co-Founder And Investor)

## Core Business
- Primary industry/industries: Defense technology, Government technology, National security
- Target customers: U.S. Department of Defense, intelligence community, and other government agencies (B2G/Enterprise)
- Mission or purpose statement: "Building and buying mission-critical technologies to fill the gaps others ignore" — focused on solving the problems others don’t, enhancing national strength, stability, and security.

## Products & Services
Valinor operates a unique model of **centralized go-to-market** and **decentralized engineering**. Rather than listing specific products, Valinor builds and procures right-sized solutions for unmet needs in mission-critical environments. Key areas of focus include:
- **Edge AI**: Software engineering for AI deployed at the tactical edge.
- **Autonomy & Ground Systems**: Software and hardware for autonomous systems.
- **GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control)**: Engineering for precision-guided systems.
- **Mission Operations**: Operational support and deployment for defense customers.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding — **$85.0M** across two rounds
  - Seed Round (2024): $31.0M (3 investors)
  - Series A (January 2026): **$54.0M** (12 investors, led by Friends & Family Capital)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Friends & Family Capital (lead, Series A), plus a total of 15+ investors across rounds. Partners with industry leaders in defense tech.
- **Growth Signals**: Nearly tripled headcount in six months (from ~14 to 42 employees); 7 active job postings with monthly posting growth of +75%; expanding from Alexandria, VA to offices in Washington, DC, Fort Worth, TX, and New York, NY; international presence in South Korea.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Unique operating model**: Centralized go-to-market combined with decentralized engineering allows for unparalleled speed in identifying needs, building solutions, and deploying them directly into users' hands.
- **Speed to deployment**: The company emphasizes moving "from demand signal → development → deployment" fast enough to outpace traditional defense contractors.
- **Talent density**: Pulls top talent from elite organizations including Palantir Technologies, Anduril Industries, ARPA-H, and other defense/tech leaders.
- **Focus on underserved problems**: Targets gaps that larger defense primes ignore, creating a clear niche.

## Strategic Focus
- Continue rapid headcount growth across engineering, operations, and mission roles.
- Deepen presence in key defense hubs (DC, Texas, New York, and international).
- Scale the "build and buy" model to cover more mission-critical technology gaps.
- Prioritize getting products into the hands of end-users quickly over long development cycles.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as a "new kind of defense company" — less bureaucratic, more startup-like, with a mission-driven focus on national security. Values include speed, ownership, and direct impact.
- **Work Policy**: Hybrid and in-office options depending on role and location. Headquarters is in Alexandria, VA, with hybrid expectations for some roles (e.g., Office Coordinator) and in-office for others (e.g., engineering roles in Fort Worth).
- **Engineering Culture**: Heavy emphasis on full-stack ownership, edge deployment, and real-world impact. Tech stack includes Python, TypeScript, React, Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, Grafana, Prometheus, gRPC, and more. Engineers work on autonomy, AI, and ground systems.
- **Growth**: Rapidly scaling company (42 employees, tripled in 6 months) — early employees have significant ownership and career growth potential.
- **Team Composition**: 42% of employees are in technical roles; senior leadership includes heads of Finance, Legal, Marketing, Growth, and People/Talent.

## Sources
1. [valinor.co](https://www.valinor.co/)
2. [valinor.co/careers](https://www.valinor.co/careers)
3. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/valinor](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/valinor)
4. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/valinor-enterprises-inc)
5. [linkedin.com/company/valinor-enterprises](https://www.linkedin.com/company/valinor-enterprises)

## Other roles at Valinor Enterprises, Inc.

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- [Flight Controls Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-controls-engineer-valinor-enterprises-inc-new-york-1a2rk7c736aq) — New York, NY
- [Manufacturing Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-technician-valinor-enterprises-inc-cookeville-0jvrqxnt2fs9) — Cookeville, TN
- [Product Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/product-operations-valinor-enterprises-inc-new-york-28vx69kbz5p5) — New York, NY
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- [Software Engineer, Edge AI](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-edge-ai-valinor-enterprises-inc-washington-6p5rgkyvnkh8) — Washington, DC
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