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picknik

Software Engineer - Test & Quality (Boulder, CO)

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PickNik Robotics is redefining the robotics industry with MoveIt Pro, a first-of-its-kind platform that combines AI and motion planning to make robots work in the real world. Physical AI is reshaping the field: as foundation models and vision-language-action (VLA) policies move from the lab into production, MoveIt Pro combines these learned approaches with robust, safety-aware planning and control so robots can reliably perform real tasks. Built on over a decade of experience with companies like GM, Philips, Samsung, BMW, Lockheed Martin, NASA, and leading startups, MoveIt Pro brings proven capabilities into production. Join us in helping companies deploy AI to robots quickly and effectively, unlocking new possibilities. This is a challenging, high-impact role with the opportunity to do some of the most rewarding work of your career.

As a Software Engineer - Test & Quality at PickNik Robotics, you will help raise the quality bar for MoveIt Pro across the full stack — from C++/ROS 2 Behavior Tree nodes, through the Python REST API, to the React frontend. You'll write automated unit, integration, and end-to-end tests, build the test infrastructure and CI quality gates that make it low-friction for every engineer to test their work, and run the exploratory, smoke, and on-hardware testing that keeps production-ready software shipping reliably.

This role is designed to grow with you, and we're hiring across a range of experience levels. Earlier-career engineers will start by expanding test coverage, reducing flaky tests, and supporting structured QA and dogfooding while learning our stack and robotics hardware. With more experience, you will own the end-to-end QA process — test infrastructure, performance tooling, CI/CD test stages, and on-hardware deployment and testing — and drive quality strategy across the engineering team.

You'll also work as a software engineer on the team, contributing bug fixes and features alongside your testing work. You’ll partner closely with other engineers to improve testability and turn manual findings into automated regression tests. This role combines solid software engineering skills, a tester's adversarial curiosity, and a commitment to shipping reliable software.

Am I a good fit?

You:

  • Understand the value and strength of automation in testing

  • Adversarially approach coding

  • Enjoy creative thinking when approaching software development

  • Have a passion for debugging

  • Care about metrics, efficiency, and process improvement

  • Love robotics and care deeply about customer success with our product

  • Want to uplevel the team around you

Requirements

  • Bachelor's in Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field

  • Experience with Docker and understanding of CI/CD concepts

  • Familiarity with at least one testing framework

  • Foundational software and robotics skills

  • Basic C++ experience and familiarity with Python

  • Top-notch communication skills and time management

  • Ability to think critically, ask good questions, and move confidently when troubleshooting

  • Able to travel approximately every other month to customer sites & conferences (<20%)

  • Live in the Boulder/Denver area with the ability to be in-office, especially for hands-on, on-hardware testing

Some preferred skills/experience:

  • Owning or significantly improving unit, integration, and end-to-end test infrastructure

  • Extensive CI/CD experience, including owning test stages and quality gates

  • Building mock services and test fixtures (e.g., simulated ROS 2 nodes, API stubs)

  • ROS / ROS 2 testing experience

  • Building performance testing tooling (API and execution latency, frontend load) and establishing baselines

  • Leading or coordinating QA efforts across a team

  • On-hardware testing and deployment of a combined software and hardware product

  • Familiarity with Test-Driven Development

  • React or other frontend testing experience

  • Experience improving documentation and internal processes

Benefits:

  • Health, Dental, and Vision insurance

  • 401k Matching

  • Paid time off

  • Opportunity to share in the company’s success through equity

Salary

Colorado Residents Only: In accordance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the salary range for this role is $90,000 - $150,000 plus benefits. The compensation for this role can vary significantly depending on your job-related skills and experience.