Robotics SDE, Safe Autonomy, Compass

Amazon is hiring a Robotics SDE, Safe Autonomy, Compass. It pays $144k-$194k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

Level's read on this job

Level rates this software engineer role Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
Level classifies it as a mid-level role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.
The role was posted in the last few days.

AI in this role

We are seeking a robotics Software Dev Engineer to join Compass. In this role, you will own the integration of the Compass software into various platforms, including mobile robots, mobile manipulators, and legged robots. You will interface with motion planning, sensing and perception, and safety firmware and create abstractions that enable the Compass software to be easily deployed across millions of robots.

Key job responsibilities
• Design, implement, and maintain the software integration layer that enables Compass safety modules to interface with diverse robot platforms (mobile robots, manipulators, dynamically stable robots)
• Build robust abstractions and APIs that decouple safety logic from platform-specific hardware, enabling rapid deployment across new robot form factors
• Collaborate with motion planning, perception, and controls teams to ensure seamless data flow and real-time performance between safety systems and autonomy stacks
• Develop and maintain interfaces to safety-rated firmware and hardware, ensuring compliance with functional safety requirements
• Architect scalable, production-grade software that can operate reliably across millions of deployed robots
• Write high-quality, well-tested, and maintainable code in C++ and/or Python for real-time robotics applications
• Define integration testing strategies and build simulation-based validation pipelines to verify safety behavior across platforms
• Contribute to system design reviews, technical documentation, and cross-team alignment on interface contracts
• Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks in real-time safety-critical software paths
• Mentor junior engineers and raise the bar on software engineering practices within the team

A day in the life
Amazon offers a full range of benefits that support you and eligible family members, including domestic partners and their children. Benefits can vary by location, the number of regularly scheduled hours you work, length of employment, and job status such as seasonal or temporary employment. The benefits that generally apply to regular, full-time employees include:

1. Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
2. Maternity and Parental Leave Options
3. Paid Time Off (PTO)
4. 401(k) Plan

If you are not sure that every qualification on the list above describes you exactly, we'd still love to hear from you! At Amazon, we value people with unique backgrounds, experiences, and skillsets. If you’re passionate about this role and want to make an impact on a global scale, please apply!

About the team
Work with the inventors of control barrier functions on a novel, universal approach to safe autonomy: one that scales across mobile robots, manipulators, mobile manipulators, and future robot platforms with dynamic stability. You'll push the boundary of safe performance by integrating safety with motion planning, RL, and foundation models, ensuring that safety is never a blocker to robot performance. Your work will underpin robots operating alongside people at Amazon's unprecedented scale.

Basic qualifications

- 3+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 2+ years of non-internship design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- 1+ years of software development engineer or related occupational experience
- 1+ years of designing and developing large-scale, multi-tiered, multi-threaded, embedded or distributed software applications, tools, systems, and services using: C#, C++, Java, or Perl experience
- 1+ years of Object Oriented Design experience
- Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field
- Experience programming with at least one software programming language

Preferred qualifications

- 3+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.

USA, CA, PASADENA - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually
USA, MA, North Reading - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Robotics SDE, Safe Autonomy, Compass at Amazon rates 36 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.