Gait Control Engineer

Shift Robotics · Austin, United States · Full-time · Posted 2026-03-12

Salary: USD 90,000–120,000

Workplace: on_site

Description

About Shift Robotics

We’re making the world a more walkable place. Through intuitive personal mobility, we make walking faster, more efficient, and more accessible to empower people to choose walking over sitting in traffic. By giving people the ability to Moonwalk, we believe the path forward to a better future is easily reached on your own two feet.

Our flagship product, Moonwalkers, are the world’s fastest robotic shoes, augmenting natural walking with intelligent locomotion assistance. By giving people the ability to Moonwalk, we believe the path toward a more human-scale future can be reached on your own two feet.

We are building the next generation of Moonwalkers and are looking for engineers who thrive in fast-paced environments where hardware, software, and human motion intersect.

We are covered in Wired, CNET, Gizomodo, PCMag and many other tech press.

Role Overview

The Gait Control Engineer will lead the development of locomotion control algorithms for Shift’s robotic footwear platform. This role focuses on designing, implementing, and deploying robust control and estimation algorithms that enable safe, intuitive, and responsive human-machine interaction.

You will work closely with mechanical, electrical, and firmware teams to develop algorithms that run reliably on embedded systems while handling real-world variability in human gait and terrain.

This role requires strong intuition for human locomotion, control systems, and embedded algorithm implementation.

Responsibilities:

Locomotion Control Development

Design and implement gait control algorithms for wearable robotic systems.
Develop control strategies for walking assistance across different user speeds, terrain conditions, and gait phases.
Implement and validate locomotion controllers on embedded hardware.

State Estimation & Sensor Fusion

Develop real-time estimation algorithms using IMU, force sensors, encoders, and other onboard sensors.
Implement sensor fusion pipelines for gait phase detection, motion estimation, and intent recognition.
Ensure algorithms remain robust under noisy real-world conditions.

Algorithm Prototyping & Validation

Prototype algorithms in Python or MATLAB before deploying to embedded systems.
Evaluate control strategies using simulation tools (e.g., MuJoCo, Simulink, or custom simulation environments).
Design experiments and analyze data from real hardware testing.

Embedded Implementation

Translate algorithms into efficient C/C++ implementations for real-time embedded systems.
Optimize algorithms for low-latency execution on resource-constrained processors.
Work with firmware engineers to integrate control algorithms into production software.

System Integration

Collaborate with mechanical and electrical engineers on actuator selection, sensor placement, and system architecture.
Ensure control algorithms meet performance, safety, and reliability requirements.
Identify system limitations and propose improvements in hardware or software.

Requirements

Education:

MS or PhD in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Experience:

2+ years experience developing control algorithms for:

wearable robotics
legged robots
powered prosthetics
exoskeletons
humanoid locomotion

Technical Skills:

Strong understanding of:
Control systems
Multibody dynamics
Human locomotion
State estimation
Sensor fusion

Experience with:

Real-time control implementation in C/C++
Algorithm prototyping using Python or MATLAB
Embedded systems development
Processing IMU and force sensor data
Debugging real-time robotic systems

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with one or more of the following:

Gait phase detection and intent recognition
Model-based control (e.g., MPC, optimal control)
Extended Kalman Filters or nonlinear state estimation
RTOS-based embedded systems
ARM Cortex microcontrollers
Real-time signal processing
Simulation tools such as MuJoCo, Simulink, or OpenSim
Experience working on production robotics systems or shipping hardware products is highly valued.

Benefits

Competitive salary and equity participation
401(k) retirement plan
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Flexible vacation policy
Paid holidays
A collaborative, fast-moving engineering environment
Opportunity to shape the future of personal mobility

Apply

Apply at Shift Robotics

About the company

Shift Robotics designs Moonwalkers, wearable robotic shoes that strap over normal footwear to increase walking speed for personal and industrial use. The system uses an AI-powered drivetrain and real-time gait analysis to adapt to a wearer’s stride, enabling up to 7 mph and hands-free control via foot gestures that switch between go and stop. The devices are water-resistant, handle hills and stairs, and feature an ergonomic hinge, a brushless motor, and a multi-layer brake system for safety. The product targets urban commuters and, more prominently, large facilities like warehouses and factories, where case studies show productivity gains and quick payback, with the aim of providing safe, fast mobility that reduces the last-mile and boosts logistics efficiency.

Company Size

1-10

Company Stage

Seed

Total Funding

$6.6M

Headquarters

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Founded

2017

Get referred to Shift Robotics

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

The July 2026 website shows active sales, shipping, financing, and a current business page.
Moonwalkers Aero’s 50 dB profile broadens indoor and airport use versus louder predecessors.
PCLiquidations’ case study and business claims support real warehouse ROI conversations.

What critics are saying

A $999-$1,399 price limits adoption; consumers buy faster scooters instead.
No 2026 funding, layoffs, or major enterprise contracts surfaced, signaling weak momentum.
If warehouse pilots stall, Shift becomes a niche hardware brand with fragile demand.

What makes Shift Robotics unique

Moonwalkers Aero, updated July 2025, keeps 7 mph speed at 4.2 pounds.
Shift’s gait-sensing drivetrain and lock mode target warehouse safety, not just novelty.
The business page claims over 200% productivity gains and under-one-month payback.

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Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Company Equity
Stock Options
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays

Company News

VentureBeat

Jan 3rd, 2024

Shift Robotics Unveils Moonwalkers X Robotic Shoes

Do you want to get the latest gaming industry news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our daily and weekly newsletters here. Shift Robotics has unveils Moonwalkers X as the latest version of its robotic shoes.The Austin, Texas-based company made the announcement ahead of CES 2024, the tech trade show in Las Vegas next week.The Moonwalkers X is an enhanced iteration of the original Moonwalkers model, with improvements in weight, agility, and safety. The company aims to change the landscape of workplace mobility with these Robocop shoes.Distinguished by a host of advanced features, the Moonwalkers X exhibit several key enhancements compared to their predecessors.

CleanTechnica

Dec 19th, 2023

Are Robotic Shoes A Micromobility Innovation Or A Solution In Search Of A Problem?

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google NewsThese “robotic shoes,” which are billed as “the world’s fastest shoes,” promise to more than double your walking speed, thanks to an 8-wheeled electric drivetrain and an adaptive AI system.The Moonwalkers, from Shift Robotics, were chosen by TIME as one of the 200 Best Inventions of 2023, but is this the micromobility innovation we need, or is it a solution in search of a problem? I mean, humans already know how to walk pretty dang well, and can easily increase our walking speed instinctively, without the need for any batteries or motors, but evidently it struck a nerve with some people, as the team behind it was able to raise more than $300,000 on Kickstarter last year.According to the company website, Moonwalkers are “the first-ever mobility device that allows you to walk at the speed of a run. Designed with an adaptive A.I. drivetrain, you can cover more distance — at your own pace.” With a top speed of 7 mph and a range between charges of 5 to 7 miles, these “robotic” shoes can be strapped on over your regular shoes, and are said to be built to handle “rough urban terrain.” The Moonwalkers feature regenerative braking and a 90-minute charge time, weigh a little over 5 pounds each, and have a weight limit of some 220 pounds.At first glance, they appear to be something akin to roller skates, but they don’t freewheel, so they appear to be a fair bit easier to learn how to use than skates, and according to Shift Robotics, they can quickly be put into “lock” mode for times when the propulsion isn’t needed or wanted. The regenerative braking feature is said to help control the descent speed, and the shoes’ AI system will bring the user to a stop within 3 feet, so unlike skates, there doesn’t seem to be a danger of slamming into things as there is for newbie skaters.Now, color me skeptical, but these $1399 wheeled shoes don’t seem to be something prone to wide adoption, at least to the general public who wants to simply walk faster on their daily commute. They are yet another thing that needs to be charged and maintained, and kept track of or stored when not in use, and I imagine that using them indoors in public spaces might attract unwanted attention from the powers that be, which may not appreciate wheeled walkers in and around stores or businesses

Technical.ly

Dec 12th, 2022

Shift Robotics Is Gearing Up To Sell Moonwalkers, Its High-Tech Footwear, In 2023

A few years ago, tired of dealing with traffic, Xunjie Zhang resolved to start riding a scooter to work. It was going fine — up until the day he was nearly hit by a car. Fortunately, Zhang wasn’t physically hurt, however he was left shaken by the experience and believed there could be a better way to travel where you wouldn’t have to sacrifice safety or speed. “Instead of taking a risk and using a scooter or a bike,” he thought at the time, “what if we have a way of augmenting walking so that you can not only travel more efficiently, but be safe to the user itself as well as to the rest of pedestrians around us?”

Shift Robotics

Gait Control Engineer

About the job