Sr Robot Software Engineer

Location: Denver, CO (On-Site Required) Department: Engineering

About Tempo Works

Tempo Works is an early VC-backed construction robotics company based near Denver, CO. We build robots that do real work — our first machine is already on job sites, grinding and polishing concrete floors for paying customers. Now, we’re expanding our team to bring new capabilities to the software stack, integrate new hardware, improve field reliability, and accelerate deployment across the industry.

We're a small team moving fast. If you want to write code that runs on a physical robot in the real world, not in simulation, this is the job for you.

The Role

You'll own software across the stack — infrastructure, algorithms, tooling, high-level behavior, and field reliability. As an early engineer, you'll have a direct impact on what ships and how it works in the field.

Day-to-day you'll be building and maintaining software wherever it’s used, including platform tooling and infrastructure, behavior orchestration logic, motion planning and navigation (Nav2), perception (SLAM and obstacle avoidance) and building observability for the fleet.

You'll create novel algorithms, debug issues in the field, improve system reliability, while working closely with the rest of the team across hardware and software.

We don't have layers of process. You'll own things end-to-end: design, implement, test, and validate in production.

Who We're Looking For

You've shipped software on real robots that real customers use. You care about whether the machine works, not just whether the code compiles.

You're comfortable in Linux, Python and C++, and know your way around ROS2. You like debugging hard problems and you're more focused on the product than the tech. You dig in when needed and can make smart decisions to deliver real solutions to customers.

Required

• 5+ years experience in production Python and/or C++
• ROS2 experience
• Experience deploying robot software into real-world environments
• Systems thinking — debugging across layers, integrating components, keeping complex things running
• Strong Linux fundamentals
• BS in CS, CE, Robotics, or equivalent hands-on experience

Nice to Have

• Nav2 or motion planning experience
• Fleet management, distributed systems, or cloud-connected robot infrastructure
• Experience building internal tooling, dashboards, or observability systems
• Perception (SLAM) expertise
• Construction, mining, or other blue-collar industrial environments
• Electronics fundamentals (diagnostics, basic hardware debugging)
• Web development (backend or frontend)
• Rust language experience

Compensation & Benefits

• $100k

• Early Employee Equity
• Full health, dental, and vision coverage
• Unlimited PTO
• Tempo Works is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status.