Robotics Engineer - Winterleap

Winterleap is a startup building a new class of agricultural machine: a winter-operating field implement that uses controllable non-ionizing radiation, sensing, control systems, and agronomic intelligence to treat weeds and pests in frozen soil before the growing season begins.

This is not an incremental improvement to an existing machine. We are developing a new system category.

The technology sits at the intersection of embedded control, power electronics, RF systems, instrumentation, robotics, field machinery, soil physics, plant biology, nematology, and agronomy - spicing it with some algorithms and AI. The machine must work outdoors, in winter, on farms, in harsh and variable conditions - while controlling high-power subsystems, collecting real-world data, and making the system reliable enough for farmers to use.

We are looking for a highly capable, hands-on Robotics Engineer, who wants to work on difficult physical systems, not just simulations or software abstractions.

At Winterleap, you will help turn technology into a functional field product. You will work close to the hardware, close to the field, and close to the core technical decisions. This role is for someone who enjoys understanding a system deeply, debugging across disciplines, and building things that must work in the real world.

What you will work on

You will help design and develop, program, integrate, and validate advanced control systems for an agricultural machine operating in frozen soil conditions.

This includes work across:

• Embedded software and machine control, user interface

• Sensor integration and data acquisition

• State machines, safety logic, and fault handling

• Instrumentation for field testing and validation

• Communication between subsystems

• Debugging hardware and software in real operating conditions

• Control algorithms, data analysis

This is a role where the feedback loop does not end at the desk. The system has to be tested in the workshop, on the machine, and in the field.

We are looking for someone who is technically strong, curious, and practical

You may have a background in robotics, cybernetics, mechatronics, embedded systems, control systems, electrical engineering, computer engineering, instrumentation, or a related field. Equivalent practical experience is also highly relevant.

You should be comfortable working with complex systems where the answer is not always known in advance.

Relevant experience includes:

• Strong programming skills in C, C++, or similar embedded/system-level languages (LabVIEW is a plus but not required)

• Experience with embedded systems, sensors, actuators, instrumentation, or machinery

• Practical understanding of control systems, state machines, safety logic, and fault handling

• Ability to debug across software, electronics, and mechanical systems

• Structured approach to testing, documentation, and problem solving

Winterleap is an early-stage startup. That means the work is broad, practical, and sometimes messy. You should be comfortable switching between code, algorithms, electronics, sensors, machine testing, field trials, documentation, and technical discussions.

You will have freedom to take ownership, but also responsibility for making things work. We value people who are honest about problems, structured in how they solve them, and motivated by building something that matters.

Location

The position is based in Oslo, Norway. We are located at StartupLab, but must be open to occasional travel to the US and Canada for testing, partnerships, and field work.

Compensation and ownership

As an early team member, you will receive company ownership and take part in the long-term upside of what we build.

We are a busy startup and may be slow to respond to the application. We will review applications in August!