Robotics Engineer - Freelance - Amsterdam
Job Title: Robotics Engineer
Location: Amsterdam (On-site)
Contract Length: 12 Month Contract with opportunity to extend
Start Date: As soon as possible
The opportunity
We are seeking an experienced robotics software engineer to join a multidisciplinary team developing autonomous mobile systems for demanding industrial environments.
You will contribute to the development of the software that enables mobile robots to understand their surroundings, determine where they should move, and navigate safely alongside other vehicles, equipment, and people. The work spans the complete autonomy pipeline, from sensing and localization through planning and motion control.
This is a hands-on engineering role. You will move between software development, simulation, hardware integration, field testing, and deployment, with the opportunity to see your work operate on real robotic platforms.
What you will work on
- Develop and maintain C++ robotics software using ROS/ROS 2 and related navigation technologies.
- Build functionality covering perception, localization, mapping, path planning, navigation, and vehicle control.
- Integrate robotic software with sensors and other hardware, including LiDAR-based systems.
- Investigate and resolve issues discovered during simulation, laboratory testing, and operation of physical vehicles.
- Deploy autonomy software onto prototype and production robotic platforms and validate its behaviour in real-world environments.
- Design solutions for environments where autonomous vehicles must safely coexist with conventional industrial traffic.
- Evaluate emerging approaches in mobile robotics, autonomous navigation, and mechatronics and determine where they can provide practical value.
- Collaborate with software, robotics, product, and commercial colleagues to translate operational requirements into robust technical solutions.
- Contribute to architectural and engineering decisions across the wider robotics platform.
- Participate in customer-facing technical activities when required, particularly during deployment, testing, and troubleshooting.
What we are looking for
You are likely to bring:
- Around 3+ years of professional experience developing software in C++ and ROS.
- Practical experience working with robots, autonomous systems, mechatronics, or closely related technologies.
- A solid understanding of modern C++ and software engineering principles, including appropriate use of design patterns and maintainable architecture.
- Experience taking ROS-based software beyond experimentation and into reliable deployed systems.
- Confidence working directly with robotic hardware and debugging systems where software, electronics, sensors, and mechanical components interact.
- An analytical approach to diagnosing complex problems and turning experimental ideas into dependable implementations.
- The ability to communicate effectively with people from different technical disciplines and with non-technical stakeholders.
- Comfort working in an international and fast-moving environment where priorities can evolve quickly.
- A willingness to challenge assumptions, put forward alternative ideas, and advocate for the technically strongest solution.
- Persistence when tackling difficult engineering problems, together with a healthy attitude toward experimentation and learning from unsuccessful approaches.
Useful additional experience
Experience or interest in any of the following would be advantageous:
- Autonomous mobile robot technology and industrial automation.
- SLAM, localization, mapping, or related navigation techniques.
- Machine-learning applications in robotics.
- Mechanical or electrical system integration.
- CAD and mechanical design tools.
- Industrial vehicles, logistics, manufacturing, or other complex operational environments.
If you are excited by the prospect of turning autonomous-robotics research and engineering into systems that operate reliably in the real world, get in contact with - [email protected]