Robotics Engineer

About the CompanyMutable Tactics is a UK-based, VC-backed deep defense-tech startup focused on the orchestration layer for autonomous defense robotics. Its flagship product, Mastermind, is an edge-deployed AI orchestration system that enables a single operator to coordinate multiple autonomous robotic systems using commercial edge compute. The company’s technology is designed to increase combat effectiveness by turning robotic inventory into coordinated capability, while reducing forward risk by increasing the robot-to-operator ratio. Mutable Tactics’ neuro-symbolic architecture combines deep learning and symbolic reasoning to deliver robust, explainable autonomy aligned with commander intent and rules of engagement. The system is built to maintain coordination and task awareness even under electronic warfare or communications denial through probabilistic inference.About the RoleThis is a full-time, founding Robotics Systems Engineer role based in Cambridge, offered as a hybrid position with some work-from-home flexibility. The Robotics Systems Engineer will design, integrate, and maintain multi-robot systems powered by Mastermind, ensuring reliable orchestration across heterogeneous platforms and edge compute environments. Day-to-day responsibilities include systems architecture design, integration and testing of hardware and software components, performance tuning, and implementing reliability and safety mechanisms for autonomous systems. The role also involves diagnosing complex system issues, improving deployment pipelines, collaborating closely with AI, software, and hardware teams, and contributing to technical documentation and operational procedures. As a founding team member, the engineer will help shape engineering best practices, inform product roadmap decisions, and support early customer deployments in demanding defense environments.ResponsibilitiesDesign, integrate, and maintain multi-robot systems powered by Mastermind.Ensure reliable orchestration across heterogeneous platforms and edge compute environments.Conduct systems architecture design, integration, and testing of hardware and software components.Performance tuning and implementing reliability and safety mechanisms for autonomous systems.Diagnose complex system issues and improve deployment pipelines.Collaborate closely with AI, software, and hardware teams.Contribute to technical documentation and operational procedures.Help shape engineering best practices and inform product roadmap decisions.Support early customer deployments in demanding defense environments.QualificationsHold MSc in automation and control, machine learning, robotics, or related field.2+ years of proven experience with autonomous systems (UAVs in particular).2+ years of proven experience in designing and implementing autonomous control systems for UAVs using ROS and simulation environments (e.g. Gazebo or IsaacSim).Have experience integrating edge compute (e.g. Raspberry Pi 5 + AI or Nvidia Jetson) to a UAV.Integrate sensors and actuators for improved drone perception and navigation.Knowledge of control systems, computer vision, and machine learning.Conduct testing and validation of robotic systems in various environments.Required SkillsRobotics Frameworks: ROS/ROS2, Nav2, MoveIt, Ardupilot, PX4, OMPL, PCL, Zenoh.Embedded Systems: Arduplilot and PX4 firmware, UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, MAVLink.Edge: Jetson, Qualcomm (QRB5), AIMET, TensorRT, Quantization (int4,int8), Quantization Aware Training, Pruning, Distillation.Simulation: Gazebo, IsaacSim, UnReal Engine(AirSim), Foxglove Studio, RViz2.Programming & Tools: C++, Python, Git, Docker, CI/CD, Linux, Docker/Podman.* ML specific skills: Stochastic processes: behavior trees, FSMs, MDPs; Learning: RL, Bayesian networks (and BBP); Scripting languages: PDDL, RDDL.Preferred SkillsExperience with SLAM, computer vision applied to UAVs.Knowledge of AI safety principles and practices.Knowledge of control systems, computer vision, and machine learning.Familiarity with hardware integration for UAVs.Join us in pushing the boundaries of autonomous drone technology and contribute to innovative solutions in the field of robotics.Contact: enrique@mutabletactics.ai