About the role

PIPEIN builds and operates robots that inspect the infrastructure everyone depends on but no one sees: hydroelectric penstocks, water mains and sewer networks. Our fleet is already in service with leading operators, and it is growing fast.

As Embedded Robotics Software Engineer, you will own the software that keeps this fleet running in the field. You will take what our R&D; team develops and make it work on our robots fleet.

You will be responsible for:

- The onboard systems of every robot: computers, firmware, networks and secure remote access.
- Bringing new sensors and R&D; modules onto operational robots, and validating them before they reach the field.
- Rolling out software across the fleet in a controlled way and troubleshoot.

You will work side by side with R&D;, hardware engineers and our field team, with ownership from day one.

Key responsibilities

You will be accountable for the software running on the PIPEIN fleet, from the moment a new feature leaves R&D; to the moment it performs reliably in the field. The role covers four areas.

Onboard systems

Keep the computing, firmware and communication stack of every robot healthy, secure and consistent.

- Administer the Linux single-board computers and embedded controllers on board: operating systems, drivers, services, packages and device configurations.
- Maintain and debug microcontroller firmware for sensor and actuator nodes (GPIO, I2C, SPI, UART, CAN), and strengthen watchdogs, fault handling and fail-safe behavior.
- Configure robot networks and links for commands, telemetry, video and inspection data; diagnose latency, bandwidth and packet-loss issues and make recovery robust.
- Enforce secure remote access across the fleet: SSH keys, credentials, permissions and system hardening.

Integration and validation

Bring new capabilities from R&D; onto operational robots, and prove they work before they reach a client site.

- Integrate cameras and sensors through drivers,



SDKs and communication interfaces; verify timestamps, synchronization, hardware triggering and calibration.
- Deploy the SLAM, localization and navigation modules developed by R&D;, validating interfaces, data flow, resource usage and runtime performance on the robot.
- Run lab, integration, regression and endurance tests, including recovery from communication loss, software failures and device faults.

Releases and fleet management

- Package and deploy onboard applications with Docker; automate provisioning, updates, rollback and recovery, including over limited connectivity.
- Track software and firmware versions, configurations and calibration data robot by robot, and standardize interfaces across current and new platforms.
- Improve fleet diagnostics, health monitoring, mission recording and data retrieval.

Field support

Work alongside the operations team to get robots commissioned, deployed and back in service quickly.

- Support the Field Manager with commissioning, mission readiness and on-site diagnostics.
- Turn field feedback into prioritized fixes, for the fleet and for R&D.;
- Maintain setup guides, architecture documentation and troubleshooting procedures.

Requirements

- Degree in Computer, Mechatronics, Robotics, or Automation Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
- 3–5 years of experience in embedded software, robotics, or hardware integration.
- Strong programming skills in C/C++ and Python, plus practical Java Script experience.
- Hands-on MCU programming in C, including GPIO, I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, timers,



and interrupts, with the ability to interpret hardware datasheets.
- Practical Linux, SBC administration, and Docker experience, including service configuration, dependency management, container builds, and deployment troubleshooting.
- Working knowledge of IP networking, TCP/UDP, and cybersecurity fundamentals for connected devices, including secure SSH access, key and credential management, least-privilege permissions, and access revocation.
- Experience integrating and debugging sensors, actuators, and communication interfaces, with an understanding of data acquisition and timing requirements.
- Experience maintaining reliable software through Git, structured logging, testing, release management, and technical documentation.
- Ability to take technical ownership with limited supervision, collaborate across R&D; and operations, and resolve issues through hands-on lab and field work.

Nice to have

- Experience with ROS/ROS2 and integrating robotics control or perception modules.
- Experience with multi-sensor calibration, hardware triggering, or clock synchronization using PTP or NTP, including measuring achieved timing accuracy.
- Familiarity with deploying SLAM, localization, or navigation modules; automated build and deployment pipelines; RTOS-based firmware; or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
- Experience with ROVs, underwater systems, or robots operating in GPS-denied and harsh environments.

What we offer

- Competitive salary (€30k - €50k) based on experience and technical skills.
- A hands-on role with high autonomy and full ownership of your work, and capabilities of an operational, expanding robotic fleet.
- A central role in a fast-growing, highly dynamic company, with real room to grow as the team and the fleet scale.
- The chance to join one of the most innovative robotics startups in the European deep-tech scene.

📌 Embedded Robotics Software Engineer (Italia)
🏢 Pipein
📍 Italia