Bucket Robotics
Defect detection for manufacturing built from CAD and synthetic data.
Founding Engineer
About the role
Role Overview
We're seeking a Founding Engineer to join our core team and help shape our technology, architecture, and culture from the ground up. As one of our first technical hires, you'll work across the entire robotics stack to define the future of AI-driven defect detection in manufacturing.
If you thrive in high-impact, hands-on environments and are passionate about building cutting-edge robotics and vision systems, we'd love to talk.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and optimize core robotics software for real-time defect detection
- Implement and refine algorithms for robot perception, control, and motion planning
- Build scalable, production-grade AI and computer vision systems
- Develop simulation environments and robust testing frameworks for rapid iteration
- Work closely with hardware teams to integrate software with physical systems and make sensor selection decisions
- Make key architecture and technology decisions to set the foundation for future growth
- Mentor future engineers and contribute to a world-class engineering culture
Required Qualifications
- 3+ years of software engineering experience, with a strong focus on robotics, AI, or computer vision
- Proficiency in Rust and Python
- Deep understanding of computer vision and machine learning
- Strong systems design skills
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Engineering, or a related field
Preferred Qualifications
- Background in deep learning
- Experience with CUDA and the Nvidia Jetson platform
- Experience implementing object detection, tracking, and pose estimation models
- Experience with reinforcement learning
- Familiarity with embedded systems and real-time computing
What We Offer
- Competitive salary & meaningful equity – shape the company and share in its success
- Comprehensive benefits – health, dental, and vision insurance
- Professional development budget – attend conferences, take courses, grow your skills
- A chance to build something real – work on robotics
Our Values
- Innovation First: We push the boundaries of what's possible in robotics
- Ownership Mentality: We take responsibility and act like founders
- Collaborative Spirit: We work together to solve complex challenges
- Continuous Learning: We're always growing and improving
Bucket Robotics is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
About Bucket Robotics
About Bucket Robotics
At Bucket Robotics, we’re on a mission to revolutionize quality control in manufacturing. Today, over $10 billion worth of manufactured parts are scrapped due to defects, and traditional inspection methods are slow, expensive, and unreliable. We’re changing that by deploying AI-powered vision systems that detect defects faster, more accurately, and with minimal setup.
Our unique approach uses synthetic data generated from CAD models, allowing us to deploy defect detection models 50x faster than competitors—no need for thousands of real-world images.
We’re a team of engineers and innovators with backgrounds from Michelin, Uber ATG, Argo AI, and Stack AV, applying our robotics expertise to solve real-world manufacturing challenges. We’ve already secured enterprise customers in automotive and plastics, and we’re just getting started.
If you're excited about AI, robotics, and making a tangible impact on manufacturing, we'd love to hear from you!
