Senior Software Engineer

Our Mission: To Be Bold and Impactful

At Emesent, we build autonomous robotics, LiDAR mapping, and spatial data technologies that are transforming the way industries understand and interact with the physical world. Founded in 2018 with deep roots in Australia's globally recognised CSIRO, Emesent has become a global leader in drone autonomy and mobile mapping solutions.

With a rapidly growing international customer base and expanding product portfolio across hardware, desktop software, and cloud platforms, we are entering an exciting new phase of growth and we're looking for engineers who want to help shape what comes next.

The Opportunity

Cortex is the software and control architecture at the heart of every Emesent scanner. It's what takes you from handheld mapping all the way to autonomously controlling robotic systems connected to it. As a Senior Software Engineer on the Capture team, you'll focus on the software engineering craft that makes Cortex robust and reliable: sound architecture, high-quality code, strong automated testing, and smooth deployment.

You'll work hands-on across the stack with a strong focus on the software architecture and deployment of the robotics Cortex stack, from low-level C++ modules to the Python tooling that supports development work, testing, tuning, and deployment. This is a senior individual contributor role reporting to the Capture Engineering Manager, where we're looking first and foremost for depth in software engineering.

Key Responsibilities

Software Design & Architecture

• Apply SOLID software engineering and architectural principles across the Cortex stack

• Contribute to and help evolve the software architecture so it remains scalable, maintainable, and extensible as the platform and team grow

• Design, implement, and maintain core Cortex modules, including domains such as hardware interface, navigation, mapping, and perception

• Make sound technical trade-offs and drive design decisions that keep the stack reliable as it scales

Software Development

• Write production-quality C++ for performance-critical components

• Build supporting tools, test harnesses, and analysis scripts in Python

• Use Bash for scripting and automation across development and deployment workflows

• Develop software in Linux-based systems

Testing, Deployment & CI/CD

• Own and expand automated testing and regression pipelines to keep the stack reliable as it grows

• Build, maintain, and improve CI/CD pipelines and containerised development workflows (Docker)

• Deploy and integrate software using the GitHub  and AWS ecosystems

• Validate software behaviours in simulation and on physical hardware, including field trials

Collaboration & Mentorship

• Mentor other engineers in the team, helping build their technical skills and judgement

• Lead and participate in design reviews, code reviews, and technical planning

• Work closely with hardware, software and product teams to translate customer and field requirements into robust software

• Document design decisions and share knowledge across the team

• Assist with support escalations raised by our clients, using the learned feedback to make our software better and more intuitive to use

About You

You're a senior software engineer who takes pride in engineering craft — clean architecture, high-quality code, and reliable testing and deployment. You operate with a strong degree of autonomy, exercise sound technical judgement, and enjoy raising the bar for the engineers around you.

You are effective because you can:

• Write clean, efficient, well-tested code in C++ and Python

• Apply solid software engineering and architectural principles to build systems that stay maintainable and scale with the product

• Design and maintain strong testing, CI/CD, and deployment practices that keep software reliable

• Communicate clearly with both engineers and non-technical stakeholders about progress and trade-offs

• Mentor other engineers and help raise the technical bar across the team

Experience & Background

Our ideal profile is someone with:

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience

• Strong proficiency in both C++ (C++20 or later) and Python 3

• Working knowledge of Bash

• Experience with the GitHub ecosystem and AWS deployments

• Familiarity with build systems, CI/CD pipelines, and containerised development (Docker)

• A strong track record of automated testing and writing robust, extensible code

• Track record on working with Linux-based systems

• A degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

Nice to have: 

• Some exposure to robotics or embedded systems

• Familiarity with middleware such as ROS1/ROS2

• Experience with robotics simulation pipelines such as Gazebo or Isaac Sim

• Familiarity with robotics concepts such as SLAM, sensor fusion, path planning, or control systems

• Familiarity with LiDAR, IMU, or multi-camera systems

• Experience in agentic engineering, from design to coding

However, we encourage people with some, but not all, of this background to also apply.

Why This Role Matters

Cortex is the software that makes every Emesent scanner work, from handheld mapping to full robotic autonomy — it's what our customers are actually buying when they choose us for GPS-denied mapping and inspection. As a senior engineer on Capture, the quality of your software — its architecture, its test coverage, and how reliably it deploys — directly shapes how our scanners and drones perform in real mines and tunnels, as do the engineers you help develop along the way.

The Added Perks

• 9-day fortnight – every second Friday off

• Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP) – share in Emesent's success

• Work alongside a passionate and collaborative team building world-leading technology

• Genuine learning and development opportunities including LinkedIn Learning access

• Employee Assistance Program

• One additional day of leave each year for your work anniversary

• Novated lease options

Why Emesent?

At Emesent, you'll work on technology that is genuinely shaping the future of how industries capture and understand the physical world. We offer a dynamic, collaborative environment, competitive compensation, and real opportunities for professional growth. Join us in pushing the boundaries of robotics and spatial intelligence.