Robotics Research Engineer

Pace Robotics is a construction robotics startup incubated by SINE IIT-Bombay and backed by Pidilite Ventures and IIMA Ventures. We are making the construction process faster, smarter and efficient through robots that can do advanced construction tasks and digitize execution data in real time. Our first product is a modular wall finishing robot for plastering, putty and painting of building interiors. Our customers include some of the biggest names in Indian real estate and construction.

We are seeking a passionate and driven Robotics Research Engineer with experience in SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), Sensor Fusion and 3D Robot Vision to join our growing team. You will be at the core of developing cutting-edge state estimation and perception solutions for autonomous robots operating in challenging construction environments. You will work on fusing data from multiple sensors—such as LiDAR, cameras, Encoders and IMU to enable reliable perception and navigation. This role is ideal for engineers who thrive at the intersection of theory and application, and are excited to turn algorithms into deployed systems.

What you will do:

• Design, implement and optimize SLAM and state estimation algorithms for real-time applications
• Develop robust sensor fusion pipelines, integrating data from 3D/2D LiDAR, RGB-D camera, IMU and wheel encoders.
• Leverage latest Deep Learning/Machine Learning based techniques to develop robot's decision making capabilities.
• Conduct experimental evaluations in simulation and real-world scenarios.
• Maintain modular, well-documented codebases with scalability in mind.
• Collaborate closely with hardware teams to deploy solutions on physical robots.
• Contribute to technical research and stay updated with the latest in 3D Robot Vision and SLAM literature.
• Perform debugging, profiling and performance tuning for on-robot deployment.

Who you are:

• A minimum of a Master's degree with at least 2 years of work experience in a relevant field like Robotics, Control Systems, Mathematics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering etc.
• Strong understanding of SLAM concepts (Graph-based SLAM, Visual SLAM, LiDAR SLAM, etc.)
• Proficient in sensor fusion using Kalman Filters, Particle Filters, or other probabilistic models.
• Familiarity with classical Computer Vision techniques
• Familiarity with concepts related to ML/DL
• Good programming skills in C++ and Python
• Experience with ROS and/or ROS 2
• Experience with deep learning-based localization or VO/VIO systems.
• Strong foundations in mathematical concepts of Linear Algebra, Probability, Statistics and Differential Calculus
• Experience with simulation environments like Gazebo Ignition, ISAAC sim etc.
• Experience with implementing robot software on NVIDIA Jetson based Edge Computing devices
• Familiarity with relevant Libraries: PyTorch, TensorRT, ONNX, Eigen, Open CV, PCL, Open3D, Ceres etc.
• Hands-on experience with real robots and perception sensors such as time-of-flight and stereo cameras, 2D/3D LIDAR, and IMUs.
• Comfortable with Git and collaborative development workflows.

Good to have:

• Work experience with CUDA
• Record of publications in reputed conferences and Journals
• Knowledge of Real Time OS (RTLinux, RTOS etc)
• Knowledge of Digital Signal Processing techniques
• Knowledge of robot kinematics

Personal attributes:

• Strong sense of curiosity and an eagerness to learn new concepts, technologies, and methodologies.
• Thrives in cross-functional, fast-paced R&D environments.
• Highly organized and methodical in everything you do.

Hiring Process:

• Round 1: Technical Interview to test the theoretical foundations of the candidate in relevant topics
• Round 2: A take home assignment designed to test candidate's competency with required programming languages and relevant software tools.
• Round 3: A case study round to assess the candidate's problem-solving approach. The candidate will lead a discussion on a hypothetical, role-relevant problem and brainstorm solutions with the interviewer. This will be followed by a brief review of the take-home assignment from the previous round.
• Round 4: Discussion with the Founder to align on career goals

What's in it for you:

Globally, Construction provides a 1.6 Trillion Dollar opportunity, just by making the work more efficient. This is the market we are after. You will be an integral part of the core team of an early stage startup on a mission to change the way we build our world and disrupt one of the oldest and the largest industries. You will be designing products that can change the landscape of construction, become ubiquitous in project sites and be synonymous with construction of the future (Think of JCB and Tower Cranes of today)

We promise you an environment that promotes unhindered innovation and one that can provide exciting opportunities for accelerated growth. You will be working with a stellar engineering team having diverse experience in developing robots for automotive, agriculture and construction industries. You will have immense learning opportunity as you will be working on 'never-seen-before' products for an industry that's ripe for technological disruptions.

The compensation includes company stocks through ESOP's.