Software Engineer

Piaggio Fast Forward is seeking an engineer or roboticist to assist with the development of software for unique advanced mobility and transportation applications.

About Us

Piaggio Fast Forward was established in 2015 to develop smart mobility platforms for a world in which city navigation and short-distance transportation are rapidly changing. PFF builds lightweight and autonomous mobility platforms to efficiently move goods and people. Led by an interdisciplinary team of innovators drawn from the top ranks of the technology, design, and engineering fields, PFF was founded as a new, independent technology and design company of the Piaggio Group, the manufacturers of Vespa, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Gilera and several other scooter, motorcycle and commercial vehicle brands. Check out our website to learn more about our team that includes the director of the Harvard MetaLab, Nicholas Negroponte of the MIT Media Lab and more: www.piaggiofastforward.com.

About the Role

We’re looking for a robotics engineer to assist us in the design and development of autonomous land robots and drones. You will take ownership of autonomy elements and interfaces used in the products PFF is creating for this exciting new marketplace. You will have the opportunity to create, fabricate and test software and hardware systems, and be part of a team that is dedicated to creating new transportation and robotic solutions. The specific role entails developing front end and back end robotic software for control, monitoring, navigation, communication and human interfaces.

Requirements

The position is for an early-career engineer. Recent college graduates will be considered but the preference is for someone with two to five years of experience. Candidate should have demonstrated experience with one or more of the following:

• Reliable and persistent autonomous systems
• Sensor and payload integration
• Embedded systems and device I/O
• Mission planning and re-planning and adaptive behaviors
• Autonomous navigation
• Smartphone app development
• Web interface development

Applicant should be proficient in C++ or C, Python and Java. Experience with Matlab is desired. Experience with the ROS and associated libraries is a must, as is proficiency with Linux and Windows operating systems. Experience with iOS is desired.

A BS degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related subject is required.

Responsibilities

You’ll be part of a team working directly with senior engineering and design staff. Because we are a small and nimble team, you will have the opportunity to work with, and learn from, everyone. Some specific items include:

• Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to define, design, test and deliver new autonomy systems
• Work on software documentation and sustainment
• Work closely with users to help define and refine system attributes in an agile environment
• Continuously research, discover, evaluate, and implement new technologies
• Support fabrication, integration and testing. This will involve integration of new hardware and software iterations in an aggressive prototyping schedule, and validation testing to ensure the subsystems meet the requirements and specifications.

About You

We're looking for someone with a love of vehicles that move, both robots and transportation systems. Bonus if you get excited about what makes some ways of moving people and things around inherently more desirable than others.

You should be a highly motivated, highly analytical self-starter with good communication skills (both written and verbal), and should be able to work in an iterative and prototype-focused development style with a cross-functional team including mechanical and electrical engineering, software development, design, human factors, fabrication and research. Ideally you’re someone who is adept at modeling and analysis tools but also hands-on and happy to turn a wrench if needed. You have a Github account and can provide examples of all the exciting work you’re already accomplished. You are interested in learning the inner workings of a company and can follow instructions well when needed, diligent with deadlines and be able to manage multiple projects.

Any most importantly, you’re excited to be part of something big!