Whelix Robotics Software Engineer Boston, MA · Full time Company website

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Whelix builds intelligent robots that automate wet lab work, starting with cell culture, for biotech and pharmaceutical research. By integrating AI agents with proprietary engineered robotics, our systems eliminate repetitive, error-prone workflows, freeing scientists to focus on discovery while increasing experimental throughput, reproducibility, and scientific impact. Based in Boston, Whelix is deploying systems into pharmaceutical, biotech and academic labs today and actively scaling up production to serve more customers.

Role Overview

As a Robotics Software Engineer, you will design, build and test the software that runs our robots, from motor and device drivers over CAN and EtherCAT to motion planning, computer vision and the ROS 2 system. You will help turn lab workflows into reliable, automated robot behavior that works with standard lab tools. You will work with our robotics software, mechanical and electrical engineers, and with the scientists who use the machine. This is a full-time, hands-on, on-site role in Boston, reporting to the CTO, with some travel to customer labs.

What You Will Work On

• Build robot behaviors in C++, Python and ROS 2 that handle standard lab tools and consumables reliably
• Develop motion planning and control for precise moves in tight, constrained workspaces
• Apply computer vision so the robot can find, verify and interact with lab consumables and equipment
• Make the robot reliable, with automatic recovery from device, bus and camera faults and safety checks enforced on the machine
• Help own deployment, from robot container images and services to hardware-in-the-loop testing
• Integrate and test with our mechanical and electrical engineers, and support installs at customer labs

Qualifications

• BS, MS or PhD in CS, ME, EE, Aerospace, Robotics or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Proficiency in Python and modern C++, with hands-on ROS 2
• Experience with a robotics simulator (e.g., PyBullet, MuJoCo, Gazebo)
• Comfortable on Linux, with Git and Docker
• Hands-on experience with real robots (arms, gantries, actuators), from industry, internships, co-ops or research
• A safety mindset, and excitement for a fast-paced startup
• Able to work on-site in Boston, MA, with occasional travel to customer labs

Nice-to-Haves

• Motor control over CAN or EtherCAT, including drive configuration, homing, limits and fault recovery
• Computer vision in production, or AI-based robotic control
• Experience shipping software that controls physical machines to customers
• Exposure to biotech, lab automation or wet-lab environments

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $100,000 to $150,000 per year
• Early-stage equity
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Paid time off and paid sick leave

Perks & Growth Opportunities

• Ownership of real robot features, from simulation to deployment in customer labs
• A front-row seat to building a startup, with exposure to product, strategy, fundraising and operations
• Work at the intersection of AI, robotics and life sciences
• Close collaboration with engineers, scientists and industry partners
• Access to Boston's robotics and deep-tech community through MassRobotics and The Engine