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Robotics Engineer

Union City, Ca

Company Description

Third Wave Automation is a rapidly growing startup that has demonstrated its core technology components, proven its market fit, and just closed its Series C funding. If you are excited about cutting edge machine learning, robotics that affects the real world, and want to join a company where your skills can have a huge impact, you’ll fit right in. 

Third Wave Automation is applying modern machine learning to materials handling—delivering site-specific forklift navigation and infrastructure-free pallet handling that continuously adapts to changing floor configuration and warehouse demand. 

Job Description

Third Wave Automation (TWA) is looking for experienced Robotics Engineers to join our team and work on the automation stack for our forklifts.  As TWA expands with successful customer deployments, we are adding people that can help drive successful outcomes by improving and enhancing our automation software.  As we are still an early stage company, the ideal candidate will be a strong generalist who can work across motion planning, vehicle command, perception and prediction and help to make the right design trade-offs as we identify new features and scope for our product.

You will be part of a core team working to pioneer new solutions while also driving product maturity to support our rapid growth projections.  We empower our team with an AI-first engineering culture. We believe in leveraging LLMs and generative tools to accelerate problem-solving, automate the mundane, and allow our engineers to focus on the high-level architectural and safety challenges unique to autonomous robotics.  We believe in a strong coaching and mentoring culture to continuously improve our most valuable asset: our people.

How You Can Make an Impact

  • Build in an AI first environment: Leverage your experience with AI-assisted tools (e.g. Cursor, Gemini, GitHub Copilot, etc.) to accelerate the SDLC, from rapid prototyping to automated test generation.
  • Take the Lead on Critical Features: From initial concept to full-scale deployment, you'll own the design and implementation of core automation enhancements. Your work will directly translate into improved efficiency, safety, and reliability for our customers
  • Solve Uncharted Problems: Leverage your deep expertise in classical robotics, planning, SLAM, and statistical data fusion to tackle the next generation of challenges in infrastructure-free navigation. You will be a hands-on developer, shaping new features that will set the industry standard
  • Drive Product Maturity and Scalability: As a core contributor, you will enhance vehicle and fleet performance by creating quantifiable improvements. Your insights will be crucial in ensuring our technology is robust enough to support our rapid growth and ambitious deployment goals
  • Influence Our Strategic Direction: As a key member of a small, empowered team, you will not just execute on a roadmap; you will help build it. Your deep understanding of real-world robotic systems will be a guiding force for our strategic planning and future product development
  • Lead from the Front: Beyond your individual contributions, you will provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and contribute original, high-impact ideas that elevate our entire engineering organization.

Desired Qualifications

  • Degree in Robotics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative discipline
  • Minimum of 5 years of hands-on robotics experience; final leveling and compensation will be determined by the depth of your technical expertise, demonstrated ability to lead complex architectural initiatives, and overall alignment with our mission
  • Track record of bringing key features from ideation to deployment
  • Strong software development skills that encourage code reuse among researchers and ability to write efficient, clean, and reusable code (C++ and Python).
  • Fluency with AI-assisted development (e.g., Cursor, Copilot, LLMs) to augment your personal competency in creating, testing and deploying solutions 
  • Fluency with robotics frameworks (e.g., ROS/ROS2) and their application in real-world systems
  • A strong foundation in computational geometry, sensor processing (LiDAR, Vision), and gracefully handling real-world noise and uncertainty.
  • Experience with motion planning algorithms, vehicle dynamics, and/or control systems and the ability to work features and resolve issues across these disciplines
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical ideas to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders

Preferred 

  • An advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in Robotics or a related quantitative field
  • Experience with perception systems and their integration into planning pipelines
  • A strong understanding of product development processes for mission-critical systems
  • A proven history of providing technical leadership and mentoring junior engineers
  • Experience with supporting shipping products 
  • Experience in safety systems and satisfying certification requirements (e.g., ISO 3691, ISO 13849, CE Marking, etc.)

The pay range for this position is $140,000 - $275,000/yr+ benefits+equity; however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  Base pay information is based on market location.

More About Working Here

Our Core Values:

  • Safety. We consider safety in everything we do.
  • People. We care about our teammates as people.
  • Encouragement. We encourage teaching, asking questions, and sharing opinions.
  • Transparency. We are transparent and sincere in our actions.

A robust set of benefits and perks:

  • Comprehensive benefits. Health, Dental, Vision, and a 401k matching program, to boot!
  • Flexible working schedule. Be productive when you work best.
  • Show & Tell. We love to learn from one another, and see the cool stuff everyone is working on!
  • Meals are covered. Lunch is provided every day, and dinner for those evenings that run long.
  • Stacks of snacks. Donuts are a main food group, and the snack shelf is always stocked with a wide variety of items.
  • Great teammates. One of the best parts of working here!

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We value each person's expertise and experiences. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. 

All qualified applicants able to work in the United States are encouraged to apply. We are unable to sponsor H-1 visas subject to fees required by the ‘Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers’ Presidential Proclamation dated September 21, 2025.

 

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