Robotics Software Engineer at Summer Robotics (Campbell)

Summer Robotics· Campbell·4d ago

Role details

Work type

Onsite

Employment

Full-Time

Job description

Develop and maintain robot software systems for industrial assembly and inspection

applications

Integrate cameras and sensors including calibration, coordinate frame management, and data pipelines
Implement and debug coordinate transforms, hand-eye calibration, and rigid body math in production software
Build production-quality C++ and Python software for real-time robotic systems
Architect multi-process and multi-threaded systems for reliable robot operation
Collaborate with algorithms and perception engineers to deploy 3D vision capabilities on

robot platforms

Strong C++ skills (STL, multithreading, memory management) and Python proficiency
Practical knowledge of 3D transforms, rotation representations, and camera/robot

calibration

Experience integrating sensors and actuators on physical robot systems
Comfortable with Linux development, Git, CMake, and CI/CD workflows
Familiarity with real-time constraints and performance-critical code
MS or higher in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
3+ years of professional experience developing software for robotic systems mindset
Thrives in a fast-paced startup, comfortable owning projects end-to-end
Passionate about building robots that work in the real world, not just in simulation
Strong debugging instincts — can trace a problem from unexpected robot behavior back

through transforms, timing, and sensor data

Value Add

Cutting-edge technology: Work on a novel perception stack that eschews cameras for laser-event sensors — a fundamentally different approach to robotic vision.
High growth stage: With recent Series A funding and aggressive hiring, engineers can have outsized impact on product direction and company trajectory.
Technical stack: Python, CUDA, NVIDIA, Jenkins, Docker, Terraform, React, Linux, C/C++, CMake — strong emphasis on performance-critical and AI/ML work.
Remote/hybrid policy: Not explicitly stated; HQ is in Campbell, CA (Silicon Valley) with 4 US-based offices.
Culture: Small team (~19 people) with a tight-knit, mission-driven culture focused on solving hard perception problems. Recent hires from Tesla, Samsung, Anthropic, and Stanford.
Perks: Opportunity to work alongside founders and industry veterans; direct exposure to customers in manufacturing and mobility.

One-liner: Summer Robotics builds a laser-event sensing platform that gives robots superhuman 3D vision, enabling 100-micron precision and 20-millisecond reaction times to handle moving parts without cameras.
Entity Type: Private (Series A)
Headquarters: Campbell, California, United States
Founded: 2020
Founders: Schuyler Cullen (CEO) and Dirk Smits

Primary industry/industries: Industrial robotics, machine vision, manufacturing automation, artificial intelligence
Target customers: B2B; enterprises in automotive, electronics, logistics, construction, agriculture, food prep, and test & measurement sectors that need high-speed, camera-free robotic perception for tasks like fastening, screwdriving, dispensing, 3D inspection, pick-and-place, and obstacle avoidance.
Mission or purpose statement: To imbue robotic systems with superhuman perception and response capabilities, unlocking new possibilities in manufacturing and mobility to dramatically improve quality of life.

Kortx™ Platform: An event-based 3D vision intelligence system that combines laser-event sensors with advanced AI. It enables robots to respond 4x faster with 10x better 3D resolution than conventional camera-based solutions. Capabilities include scanning/measuring 3D surfaces at 100Hz with 100um precision, recognizing parts of any shape/size/material under any lighting/motion, and adapting in real-time. Setup takes 30 minutes.
Key Use Cases: Eliminating jigs/fixtures, reducing cycle times, enabling dynamic toolpaths for moving workpieces (fastening, dispensing, inspection, pick-and-place), 3D surface modeling, cable insertion, and obstacle avoidance.

Valuation/Market Cap: Not publicly available
Key Metric: Total funding raised is approximately $6.19M (conflicting reports: $4.79M from one source)
Notable Investors/Partners: Applied Ventures, LLC (lead Series A investor); key partner is Terranet (announced new funding in Oct 2025)
Growth Signals: Headcount grew 45.5% year-over-year (from ~13 to ~19 employees); posted 4 active job openings (up 300% YoY); secured Series A funding in late 2025; LinkedIn followers grew 68% YoY; active patent portfolio (10+ patents in event sensing, 3D capture, robotic vision)

Camera-free perception: Proprietary laser-event sensing technology avoids the latency, lighting sensitivity, and motion-blur limitations of traditional cameras. Animals don’t have faster cameras — they have faster perception systems; Summer Robotics applies this principle to robots.
Speed and precision: 5X-10X faster reaction times (20ms) than camera-based solutions, with 100um metrology-grade precision and 100Hz tracking.
Universal part compatibility: Recognizes parts of all shapes, sizes, and materials under any lighting and motion.
Patented IP: A robust portfolio of patents covering event sensors, 3D acquisition, calibration, and foveated vision systems.

Scaling commercial deployment: Following the Series A raise, the company is focused on deploying Kortx across high-value manufacturing verticals (automotive, electronics, logistics).
Expanding into new industries: Targeting construction, agriculture, and food prep as next frontiers for robotic tradesmen.
Growing the technical team: Active hiring for senior algorithms engineers, field applications engineers, and DevOps/IT engineers to support product development and customer onboarding.

Sources