Chandler Kim

Robotics Firmware Engineer

I build firmware that ships. Over 8 years, I've taken robotics products from early prototypes to production fleets of 2,000+ units. My work spans service robots, robotic furniture, and factory automation.

I work best when I own the full stack: MCU firmware, motor control, sensor integration, and the system software that ties it all together. I care about code that runs reliably in the field, not just in the lab. There's something deeply satisfying about watching a robot you built work quietly and correctly in a busy restaurant kitchen, day after day.

Skills

Firmware

  • Embedded C/C++
  • RTOS
  • ARM Cortex
  • STM32

Robotics

  • ROS/ROS2
  • Motion Control
  • Sensor Integration
  • PID Control

Communication

  • CAN
  • UART
  • SPI
  • I2C
  • Modbus

Tools

  • Git
  • CI/CD
  • Claude

Key Strengths

Prototype to Production

Firmware to Deployment

  • • Shipped 2 robotics products from prototype to production as sole firmware developer—now deployed in commercial restaurants and customer homes
  • • Full stack: real-time OS, wireless connectivity, industrial protocols, over-the-air updates, container-based deployment

Architecture & Scalability

Multi-robot Platform Design

  • • Unified CAN-to-ROS data path across robot variants with single firmware codebase
  • • New robot variants deploy in days instead of months—config-only integration, no firmware changes

Safety & Perception

Impact Detection & Collision Prevention

  • • Torque-based impact detection: ~1N sensitivity, 150ms response time—enabling safe operation around staff and customers
  • • LiDAR pre-stop system with 0.5m forward safety corridor

Experience

Firmware Engineer

Feb 2025 – Present

Rovothome

Firmware & System Engineer

Apr 2021 – Dec 2024

Bear Robotics

Automation System Engineer

Nov 2018 – Jun 2020

AnalogPlus

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Mar 2009 - Feb 2018

Yonsei University

Research Intern

2016 - 2018

Knowledge-Based Design Lab (KDB Lab)