Senior Controls Engineer – Robotics & Automation

About Knightscope
Knightscope (NASDAQ: KSCP) is a security technology company building the nation's first Autonomous Security Force — autonomous machines, AI-driven software, and elite security professionals operating as one integrated managed service. The Company is on a mission to make the United States of America the safest country in the world. One Team. One Force.
Location: Knightscope HQ, Sunnyvale, CA (This position is not remote)
Job Summary:
Knightscope is seeking a motivated Senior Controls Engineer to support the development of motion planning and control systems for autonomous robotic platforms. This role involves designing, implementing, and testing algorithms that enable robots to safely and reliably navigate real-world environments.
The ideal candidate is excited to work in a fast-paced startup environment and enjoys both algorithm development and hands-on testing on robotic systems. This position will collaborate closely with perception, localization, and systems teams to develop robust navigation and vehicle control solutions.
About the Role
In this role, you will contribute to the development of planning and control algorithms for Knightscope’s autonomous robots. Engineers will work across multiple layers of the autonomy stack including path planning, trajectory generation, vehicle control, and system integration.
This role requires flexibility to contribute across planning, mid-level controls, and vehicle control systems, as well as participation in robot integration and real-world testing.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and maintain robot motion planning algorithms including trajectory generation, collision avoidance, and path planning
Design and implement control algorithms for robotic and vehicle systems (PID control, Model Predictive Control (MPC), Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR), trajectory tracking controllers)
Implement and maintain state estimation methods such as Kalman Filters / Extended Kalman Filters
Develop and tune mid-level and low-level vehicle control systems including steering, speed, and trajectory tracking
Work closely with perception, localization, and systems teams to integrate planning and control modules
Support development of navigation behaviors for autonomous robots operating in real environments
Analyze system logs and telemetry data to evaluate and improve performance
Participate in robot integration, debugging, and field testing
Develop internal tools for testing, validation, and performance analysis
Contribute to rapid prototyping and iterative development in a startup environment
Required Qualifications
PHD. or M.S. in Controls, Robotics, Optimization, Path Planning, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field. B.S. with strong industry experience may be considered
5+ years of full-time industry experience in robotics, autonomous systems, automotive, aerospace, or related engineering fields
Experience developing control systems for robotic or autonomous platforms
Strong understanding of control theory, dynamic systems, and vehicle/robot dynamics
Experience implementing control algorithms such as PID, Model Predictive Control (MPC), Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR), and trajectory tracking controllers
Experience with state estimation techniques (Kalman Filters / Extended Kalman Filters)
Experience with robot motion planning including trajectory generation, collision avoidance, and path planning
Programming experience in C++ and/or Python, Matlab/Simulink
Experience with communication protocols and data interfaces for robotic or vehicle systems (e.g., CAN, Ethernet) and associated logging or instrumentation tools
Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and collaborative software development workflows
Experience working with robot hardware, sensors, and embedded systems
Ability to work in a hands-on robotics development and testing environment
Compensation & Benefits
Base Salary: $180,000 to $210,000 (DOE)
Equity: Stock options
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off
Location Requirement: Full-time, on-site at Sunnyvale HQ

Employment type
Full-Time

Work arrangement
No