Capstan Medical
Overview:
Join Us in Revolutionizing Cardiac Care from Beautiful Santa Cruz
Imagine building life-saving robotics technology while being minutes from world-class surf breaks and redwood forests. We’re developing a groundbreaking robotic platform that gives surgeons superhuman precision in transcatheter valve deployment – and we need an exceptional Staff Robotics Software Engineer to help us push the boundaries of what’s possible in medical robotics.
You’ll be architecting and implementing the real-time software that translates a surgeon’s intent into precise robotic motion, working at the intersection of advanced robotics, real-time systems, and life‑critical medical devices. This isn’t just another robotics job – you’re building systems where milliseconds matter and reliability saves lives.
What You’ll Do
Design and implement high‑performance C++ software for real‑time robotic control systems, with direct responsibility for actuator control, bring‑up, and testing
Architect and develop EtherCAT‑based distributed control systems for multi‑axis robotic coordination
Leverage DDS (Data Distribution Service) and modern middleware for reliable, low‑latency inter‑process communication in complex robotic systems
Optimize real‑time performance in safety‑critical contexts, ensuring deterministic behavior under all operating conditions
Lead motor controller integration, from low‑level driver development to application‑level software and state machines
Translate clinical and user needs into design requirements. Develop software designs, implement designs into testable prototypes, and bring these features to product launch
Develop real time and/or non‑real time software, creating features and infrastructure that supports safe and effective procedures
Align individual work to best support company goals. Identifying high risk items and being part of developing solutions
Document and communicate your work through design reviews and as appropriate released documents as part of the product development process
Identify gaps and pitch in as needed to ensure that the team meets their goals and objectives
Skills
Expert C++ proficiency with deep understanding of modern C++ (14/17/20) in production systems
Proven experience with actuator control including bring‑up, characterization, and testing
Motor controller and encoder integration expertise
EtherCAT implementation experience for real‑time distributed control
Deep expertise with DDS and middleware systems – you understand QoS policies, discovery protocols, and have optimized publish‑subscribe architectures for real‑time performance
Real‑time systems expertise – you understand priority inversion, jitter, and deterministic scheduling
Medical robotics or safety‑critical systems background – you know why “it works most of the time” isn’t good enough
Strong background in object‑oriented design and programming, with the ability to create new designs or improve existing ones to ensure clear separation of concerns
Understanding of how early design decisions cascade into outcomes later. Ability to make smart decisions regarding clinical workflow, regulations, and risk management to save time and effort later
Strongly Preferred
ROS1 or ROS2 experience – you’ve built production systems with ROS and understand its real‑time capabilities
Developing software that runs on Linux systems
Knowledge of regulatory standards (FDA, CE Mark)
Low‑latency image/video streaming and GUI integration
Requirements
Experience & Background:
BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent
8+ years of hands‑on development in robotics or embedded systems
Track record of shipping complex robotic systems to production
Experience navigating ambiguity while delivering concrete results
Experience with designing, testing, and shipping software for medical device capital equipment or similar safety critical systems
Experience with medical device development process, design control, risk management, design verification, and regulatory processes, or experience with similar safety critical system development processes
Ability to work in a hybrid work environment, working onsite 3 days a week, at our Santa Cruz, CA office. In the future, there will be an option to work one day from our satellite office in Los Altos, CA.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, and disability, or other legally protected status.
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Imagine building life-saving robotics technology while being minutes from world-class surf breaks and redwood forests. We’re developing a groundbreaking robotic platform that gives surgeons superhuman precision in transcatheter valve deployment – and we need an exceptional Staff Robotics Software Engineer to help us push the boundaries of what’s possible in medical robotics.
You’ll be architecting and implementing the real-time software that translates a surgeon’s intent into precise robotic motion, working at the intersection of advanced robotics, real-time systems, and life‑critical medical devices. This isn’t just another robotics job – you’re building systems where milliseconds matter and reliability saves lives.
What You’ll Do
Design and implement high‑performance C++ software for real‑time robotic control systems, with direct responsibility for actuator control, bring‑up, and testing
Architect and develop EtherCAT‑based distributed control systems for multi‑axis robotic coordination
Leverage DDS (Data Distribution Service) and modern middleware for reliable, low‑latency inter‑process communication in complex robotic systems
Optimize real‑time performance in safety‑critical contexts, ensuring deterministic behavior under all operating conditions
Lead motor controller integration, from low‑level driver development to application‑level software and state machines
Translate clinical and user needs into design requirements. Develop software designs, implement designs into testable prototypes, and bring these features to product launch
Develop real time and/or non‑real time software, creating features and infrastructure that supports safe and effective procedures
Align individual work to best support company goals. Identifying high risk items and being part of developing solutions
Document and communicate your work through design reviews and as appropriate released documents as part of the product development process
Identify gaps and pitch in as needed to ensure that the team meets their goals and objectives
Skills
Expert C++ proficiency with deep understanding of modern C++ (14/17/20) in production systems
Proven experience with actuator control including bring‑up, characterization, and testing
Motor controller and encoder integration expertise
EtherCAT implementation experience for real‑time distributed control
Deep expertise with DDS and middleware systems – you understand QoS policies, discovery protocols, and have optimized publish‑subscribe architectures for real‑time performance
Real‑time systems expertise – you understand priority inversion, jitter, and deterministic scheduling
Medical robotics or safety‑critical systems background – you know why “it works most of the time” isn’t good enough
Strong background in object‑oriented design and programming, with the ability to create new designs or improve existing ones to ensure clear separation of concerns
Understanding of how early design decisions cascade into outcomes later. Ability to make smart decisions regarding clinical workflow, regulations, and risk management to save time and effort later
Strongly Preferred
ROS1 or ROS2 experience – you’ve built production systems with ROS and understand its real‑time capabilities
Developing software that runs on Linux systems
Knowledge of regulatory standards (FDA, CE Mark)
Low‑latency image/video streaming and GUI integration
Requirements
Experience & Background:
BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent
8+ years of hands‑on development in robotics or embedded systems
Track record of shipping complex robotic systems to production
Experience navigating ambiguity while delivering concrete results
Experience with designing, testing, and shipping software for medical device capital equipment or similar safety critical systems
Experience with medical device development process, design control, risk management, design verification, and regulatory processes, or experience with similar safety critical system development processes
Ability to work in a hybrid work environment, working onsite 3 days a week, at our Santa Cruz, CA office. In the future, there will be an option to work one day from our satellite office in Los Altos, CA.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, and disability, or other legally protected status.
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