---
title: 'Senior Robotics Software Engineer at Spacer Robotics at Cox Exponential'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-robotics-software-engineer-at-spacer-robotics-cox-exponential-san-dm38kg1awaj1'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-05'
---

# Senior Robotics Software Engineer at Spacer Robotics at Cox Exponential

- **Company:** Cox Exponential
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-02-25
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-05
- **Apply:** https://jobs.gem.com/cox-exponential/am9icG9zdDq8xEhEhUyo0F6p3BGIT4LM

## Job description

## About the Company

Spacer Robotics is building autonomous, non-humanoid robotic systems to construct infrastructure in extreme environments—from lunar bases to next-gen terrestrial job sites. Our vision is to disrupt the $16 trillion global construction industry by pioneering a new Deep Tech philosophy that blends robotics, AI, and systems engineering at the frontier.

## About the Role

We're seeking a Senior Robotics Software Engineer to join the core team building Spacer's production-level robot. This is a highly hands-on, multidisciplinary role spanning the full autonomy stack—from raw sensor data through perception, localization, planning, and control. You'll be a technical self-starter who thrives with broad ownership, can make sound architectural decisions independently, and is energized by building real systems on physical hardware in unstructured environments. As an early hire, you'll shape our engineering culture and leave a lasting mark on how our robots think, see, and move.

## Responsibilities

As a Senior Robotics Engineer, you will be expected to be versatile, making key contributions to a range of components in the Spacer software stack, including:

- Robotics Software Stack: Develop and maintain our ROS-based control systems for real-time robotic motion and coordination for our rebar-tying robot GRID
- Embedded Systems: Strong skills in C++ for embedded platforms, optimizing for reliability and low-latency
- Sensor Integration: Interface with cameras, lidar, IMUs, and encoders to build robust perception and feedback loops
- Hardware-Software Integration: Work closely with hardware engineers to debug, calibrate, and optimize the full system, including the construction tasks specific mechanisms
- Motion Planning & Control: Implement kinematics, trajectory planning, and control algorithms for smooth, natural movement
- Production-Ready Systems: Build the monitoring, diagnostics, and update infrastructure needed for manufacturing a high-volume product that is aimed at navigating the construction environment & outdoors temperatures and weather conditions.

Required:

- 4+ years of professional software engineering experience
- Strong C++ skills—you're comfortable with performance optimization, memory management, and debugging complex systems
- Python proficiency for scripting, testing, and rapid prototyping
- Experience with sensors, cameras, motors, or embedded systems in a professional context
- Excellent debugging skills—you know how to track down issues across hardware, firmware, and software
- High energy and enthusiasm for building physical products
- Based in or willing to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area. Our team works in-person which is essential for hardware development

Preferred:

- ROS/ROS2 experience
- Shipped a robotics product or worked on production robotic systems or similar (cars, automation of equipment, other robotics applications, etc)
- Embedded development experience
- Computer vision, sensor fusion, or perception experience
- Background in controls, kinematics, or motion planning
- Experience working in high pace, early stage startups

## About Cox Exponential

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Cox Exponential (CX2) is the early-stage AI venture vehicle for Cox Enterprises, partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs to build breakthrough AI/ML companies.
- **Entity Type**: Private (venture capital / accelerator; part of Cox Enterprises)
- **Headquarters**: Silicon Valley, California, United States (with remote presence and an international outlook)
- **Founded**: 2025
- **Founders**: Founded by technologists with decades of experience leading startups and building AI/ML products; key executives include Managing Partner Radu B. Rusu, General Partners Pantelis Kalogiros, Yukiko Jenkins, and others.

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Venture Capital & Private Equity (AI-focused early-stage investing)
- **Target customers**: B2B – exceptional entrepreneurs and early-stage AI companies seeking capital, mentorship, and access to the Cox family of businesses.
- **Mission**: Develop breakthrough technology that helps people flourish and bring firsts to market.

## Products & Services
Cox Exponential does not sell a product; it operates as an investment vehicle. Its main “offering” is its accelerator program and venture partnership:
- **AI Accelerator & Venture Program**: Provides capital, technical mentorship, business planning, code/prototype development, and connection to the Cox Enterprises ecosystem.
- **Portfolio Support**: Invests in and supports portfolio companies such as Spacer Robotics (autonomous rebar-tying robot), TrustMind, TrustFoundry.ai, and others.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Funding**: Not publicly disclosed (backed by Cox Enterprises, a large private conglomerate).
- **Key Metric**: Total employees ~20 (as of mid-2026); headcount grew ~144% year-over-year since founding in 2025.
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Cox Enterprises (parent); key executives from Scale Venture Partners, Fyusion, AGI House, etc.
- **Growth Signals**: Rapid team expansion, active hiring for senior engineering roles (AI infra, robotics, efficient ML), multiple open remote positions.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Cox Enterprises Backing**: Access to the breadth of a Fortune 500 company’s resources, industry connections, and potential pilot customers.
- **Founder-Led by Technologists**: The team comprises experienced AI/ML startup builders, offering hands-on technical guidance to portfolio companies.
- **Global Outlook**: Based in Silicon Valley with an international perspective, attracting talent from the US and Portugal.
- **Early-Stage Focus**: Dedicated to pre-seed and seed AI startups, differentiating from larger, less specialized corporate venture arms.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Scaling the accelerator, expanding portfolio companies, and building in-house AI infrastructure talent to support portfolio needs.
- **Direction for growth**: Deepening ties with Cox business units, investing in frontier AI (LLMs, multimodal models, agentic RL, robotics), and hiring top-tier engineers to work on internal AI platforms and portfolio support.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Early-stage, high-autonomy environment within a stable corporate parent. Employees work on cutting-edge AI challenges across multiple portfolio companies.
- **Remote/Hybrid**: Fully remote workspaces for many roles; some positions require in-office presence in San Francisco (e.g., robotics roles). The company has 8 locations but emphasizes remote flexibility.
- **Notable Perks**: Opportunity to work on diverse AI/ML projects (LLMs, robotics, efficient ML systems), exposure to multiple startups, and a flat hierarchy with direct access to experienced partners.
- **Engineering Culture**: Strong emphasis on technical excellence, with open roles for Founding Engineer (AI Infra), Research Scientist (Efficient ML), Robotics Software Engineer, and Systems Engineer.

## Sources
1. [LinkedIn – Exponential by Cox](https://linkedin.com/company/exponential-by-cox)
2. [Built In – Cox Exponential](https://builtin.com/company/cox-exponential)
3. [Built In – Cox Exponential Jobs](https://builtin.com/company/cox-exponential/jobs)
4. [The Org – Cox Exponential (CX2)](https://theorg.com/org/cox-exponential-cx2)
5. [RemoteFront – Remote Jobs at Cox Exponential](https://www.remotefront.com/companies/Cox%20Exponential)

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