---
title: 'Space Robotics Software Engineer at Phenix Space at Cox Exponential'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/space-robotics-software-engineer-at-phenix-space-cox-exponential-san-francisco-g3ey6xqqzkhk'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-19'
---

# Space Robotics Software Engineer at Phenix Space at Cox Exponential

- **Company:** Cox Exponential
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-14
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-19
- **Apply:** https://jobs.gem.com/cox-exponential/am9icG9zdDrO7lIQJ7ptEYDrCDhvLqiM

## Job description

Space Robotics Software Engineer

## About the role

Phenix Space is a venture-backed startup building the upgradeable space layer for Earth’s critical industries. Satellites have been built the same way for more than 60 years. Launch has had its revolution and we can get mass to orbit, but once a satellite is up we are still stuck with it: we cannot refresh constellations, reconstitute lost capability or make any change. Humans, with some help from robotics, have done this on Hubble and the ISS. We see a world where changing what is in orbit is autonomous and available at scale, and we are building the robotic systems and standard interface to make it happen. Phenix Space enables evolution in orbit.

We are hiring a curious software engineer who thinks in systems and gets things done. You write the software that makes our systems move, sense and decide, and you understand the hardware your code drives. You will work with every function at the company: hardware, electronics, robotics, GNC and simulation, and the founders.

What you will own:

Flight and robot software

- Flight software for our systems: robot control, reasoning and task logic, telemetry, fault management, safe modes and recovery.
- Real-time control loops for actuators and sensors, and the sensor fusion that feeds them.
- Packaging, deploying and testing software on a robotic system. Embedded systems
- Embedded and low-level software that talks to hardware: firmware, drivers, hardware abstraction layers and real-time buses such as EtherCAT and CAN.
- Software for space-constrained compute: power, thermal and radiation limits. Architecture and integration
- Driving big parts of the system architecture and owning features end to end, from requirements and interfaces through hardware and flight.
- Integrating software with hardware alongside our electronics, robotics and GNC engineers. Testing and space readiness
- Testing from simulation and hardware-in-the-loop to the bench, environmental test and flight, and iterating on the results.
- Working hand in hand with hardware owners so we can test new capabilities quickly.

What you bring:

- B.S., M.S. or PhD in computer science, electrical, computer, aerospace or mechanical engineering, mechatronics, or equivalent experience.
- 3+ years writing production software for physical systems: spacecraft, robots, drones, vehicles or similar.
- Strong C or C++ for real-time and safety-critical systems, including embedded firmware on microcontrollers, plus Python.
- Low-level communication protocols such as EtherCAT, CAN, SPI, I2C and UART.
- You think in systems: you understand the hardware your code drives and how one subsystem affects the others.
- You have shipped and deployed software to hardware that had to work outside the lab.
- You are deeply curious, have a can-do attitude, and dive deep into any layer of the stack when the problem calls for it.
- U.S. person status, required for export control (ITAR/EAR).

Nice to have:

- Space flight experience, satellite integration or in-space robotics.
- Robotics, motion control or actuation systems.
- Radiation-tolerant software practices and space-grade processors.
- Perception with cameras or depth sensors.
- Startup experience, where you took ownership of problems nobody assigned you.
- A track record of finding new ways to approach hard problems.

Why join us:

- Build the next layer of space infrastructure: one that makes today’s space applications orders of magnitude better and brings new ones to orbit.
- Your work will fly to space within your first year at Phenix.
- You will set the software architecture we fly for years.
- Join a multidisciplinary team from Dexterity, NASA JPL, SpaceX, Nimble, Boeing, Honeywell Space and Capella Space, among others, that executes with discipline, keeps evolving our capabilities and makes progress toward our vision every day.
- Build a space robotics system that has never flown before and bring physical AI to space.
- Own wide-ranging work across software, hardware and test, with room to grow into a technical leader.
- Move fast on problems in robot control, space-rated computing and autonomy.

## 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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