Robotics Engineering Manager: Systems & Applications

We help manufacturers improve the quality of life for their workforce while increasing production capacity, and reducing scrap, repair, and rework costs. As a Robotics Engineering Manager: Systems & Applications, you will join our Activation Team onsite in our Carson, CA office to grow our Systems & Applications Engineering (SAE) engineers—an essential group that interfaces with nearly every team across the organization.

- Be responsible for delivering consistently high-quality engineering output and train a team of deeply capable engineers who are known industry-wide for their problem-solving rigor, systems fluency, and collaborative strength

- Set the technical standard and lead by example: architect, debug, build, and launch physical systems

- Adopt a hands-on approach to develop people and systems in parallel

- Break down complex system-level issues across the hardware/software stack and guide others to solve them effectively

- Drill into engineering output to ensure work meets the right level of quality, performance, and long-term maintainability

- Ask the right questions to help others gain insight and move forward confidently

- Serve as a coach and mentor; train engineers in structured problem solving and technical decision-making

- Create onboarding and ongoing learning frameworks for new and existing SAE team members

- Conduct performance reviews and career development conversations with empathy and clarity

- Allocate SAE resources dynamically based on cross-functional needs (Project, Product, RDO, Sales, Gov’t, CSS, Marketing)

- Prioritize and coordinate team members’ time in alignment with evolving org-wide priorities

- Communicate team bandwidth, skill alignment, and project risk to the broader org

- Work closely with Product and other stakeholders to ensure clarity in handoffs, timelines, and quality expectations

- Operate as a thought partner to technical and non-technical leaders who rely on SAE as an internal center of expertise

- BS/MS degree or equivalent years of experience in Robotics, Automation, Advanced Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, or related field

- 6+ years experience building and launching complex physical systems (robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles, etc.)

- 2+ years experience managing performance, developing engineers and allocating team resources

- Strong systems thinking with hands-on technical experience across the full stack: hardware, firmware, software, and integration

- Familiarity with ROS, embedded systems, and full-stack development for robotics or automation systems

- Ability to translate bandwidth, technical risk, and resource needs into actionable decisions

- Track record of training, mentoring, or leveling up teams through direct teaching and role modeling

- Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

- Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across multiple teams

- Willingness to work in a fast-paced environment with quickly changing priorities

- Must secure work authorization in the United States and maintain ongoing work authorization beginning at the time of hire through the entirety of employment

- Experience leading various distributed/multi-location teams, including external design and manufacturing partners

- 8+ years experience building and launching complex physical systems (robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles, etc.)

- Prior experience as a Principal Engineer with formal people leadership responsibilities at a high-growth company

- 4+ years managing engineers directly, including performance reviews and career development

- Experience supporting multiple cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, high-growth startup or scaling environment

- Strong organizational agility: able to manage shifting priorities, allocate bandwidth, and balance technical depth with operational decision-making

- Experience standing up or scaling internal training programs, onboarding systems, or technical development tracks

- Recognized internally or externally as a thought leader or technical mentor