Robotic Hardware Engineer — Rapid Integration & Test Department: Engineering

Location: Bari, Italy

Employment: Full-time

Work arrangement: On-site

About the role Mirai is developing an AI-based autonomy platform for vessels under 100 feet. The technology combines robotics, sensor fusion, onboard AI and autonomous-navigation capabilities. The company is also developing Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs) for exploration, utility and operational-support missions.

The position focuses on rapidly integrating and testing robotic systems. The engineer will integrate hardware and software on unmanned vehicles and work with multiple engineering disciplines to prototype, validate and improve complete autonomous systems, taking concepts through to reliable field-ready platforms.

The role combines robotics, AI/autonomy software, hardware integration and real-world testing of Mirai's autonomy stack on prototype platforms.

Main responsibilities Robotics and autonomy

- Contribute to perception, planning and control using technologies including ROS 2, Isaac ROS, PyTorch and NVIDIA simulation tools.
- Assist with development and testing of reinforcement-learning models and autonomous behaviours, both in simulation and on real systems.

Hardware and systems integration

- Design, build and test unmanned-system prototypes, converting concepts into working early-stage products.
- Integrate sensors, actuators and control systems into unmanned vehicles.
- Integrate electronic hardware and establish reliable communication between hardware and software.
- Integrate and validate sensor systems involving LiDAR, radar, cameras/vision, GNSS and IMUs.
- Assemble and bring up prototypes incorporating computing hardware, power systems, actuators and electronics.
- Support development of Mirai's sensor-fusion hardware platform.

Prototyping and field testing

- Lead or support rapid prototyping of autonomous-vessel configurations.
- Carry out feasibility assessments, simulations and performance evaluations.




- Create and execute test plans for hardware functionality and reliability.
- Diagnose hardware problems and implement solutions.

Cross-functional work

- Collaborate with mechanical, systems and software engineers so that design, simulation and field-test results remain aligned.
- Help maintain engineering documentation and integration procedures.

Required qualifications
- Strong practical interest in building robotic systems, including hands-on prototyping, soldering, tuning, testing, troubleshooting and repairing hardware.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field.
- EU passport or unrestricted authorization to work in Italy.
- Availability to work mainly on site in the Bari/Puglia area, including laboratory, workshop and dock environments.
- Practical experience with robotics hardware, embedded systems and sensor integration.
- Software-development knowledge relevant to robotics/autonomy, such as Python, C and ROS.
- Experience with ROS 2 and PX4, ArduPilot or comparable autopilot systems.
- Rapid-prototyping experience such as 3D printing, mechanical assembly and electronics bring-up.
- Ability to diagnose hardware/software integration problems.
- Comfortable performing field testing and prototyping on the water.

Preferred qualifications
- UAV/UAS integration or experience with multi-sensor robotic platforms.
- Pixhawk, vehicle-control systems or maritime-autonomy experience.
- NVIDIA Jetson, Isaac Sim, reinforcement learning or perception-pipeline exposure.
- Control theory or real-time robotics knowledge.
- Experience operating drones, small vessels or other unmanned systems.

What Mirai offers
- Work on a highly advanced European autonomous-maritime platform.
- Direct involvement with edge AI and real-world autonomous systems.
- An engineering environment moving rapidly from simulation to sea trials.
- Hands-on work in Bari/Puglia in laboratory, workshop and dock environments.
- Limited hybrid flexibility may become possible after the person is established in the position.
- Opportunity to contribute directly to maritime autonomy development.

📌 Rapid integration & Test Robotic Engineer (Bari)
🏢 Mirai Robotics
📍 Bari