Robotics Engineering Lead

Location:
Santa Rosa, CaliforniaEmployment Type:
Full-TimeIndustry:
Semiconductor / Advanced ManufacturingExperience:
3+ years of industrial automation or robotics experienceEducation:
Bachelor's degree or higher requiredTravel:
NoneRelocation Assistance:
AvailableVisa Sponsorship:
Not availableBenefits:
Full benefits package

Our client is seeking a hands-onRobotics Engineering Leadto lead the automation of manufacturing processes from initial concept through successful production deployment.This individual will identify manufacturing operations that are strong candidates for automation, select the appropriate technologies, and personally design, program, integrate, test, and commission robotic systems.The role will focus heavily oncollaborative robots (cobots), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), machine vision, sensors, end-effectors, and material-handling automationwithin a live manufacturing environment.This is a technical leadership position rather than a traditional people-management role. The successful candidate will establish technical direction, lead projects, mentor engineers and technicians, and remain personally involved in programming, integration, troubleshooting, testing, and commissioning.

Key Responsibilities
Robotics & Automation Engineering

Identify and prioritize manufacturing processes that are strong candidates for automation.

Develop the technical and business case for automation initiatives.

Design, program, integrate, and commission collaborative robotic systems.

Develop cobot applications involving:

Assembly

Material handling

Machine tending

Inspection

Testing

Pick-and-place applications

Integrate robotic systems into existing factory equipment and production lines.

Select and integrate:

End-effectors

Grippers

Sensors

Machine vision

Force/torque systems

Related automation hardware

Deploy and integrate Autonomous Mobile Robots

Deploy and integrate Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) within manufacturing environments.

Develop and optimize AMR routes.

Support fleet coordination and traffic management.

Integrate AMRs with production workstations and material-handling processes.

Configure material hand-offs between AMRs and manufacturing equipment.

Support integration with manufacturing or warehouse systems where applicable.

End-to-End Project Ownership
Own automation projects throughout the complete lifecycle, including:

Requirements gathering

Process evaluation

Concept development

System design

Simulation

Build

Programming

Integration

Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)

Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)

Validation

Commissioning

Production hand-off

The successful candidate must be comfortableowning a project rather than only supporting one portion of the implementation.

Simulation & Offline Programming

Use robotic simulation and offline programming tools to validate designs before physical deployment.

Evaluate:

Robot reach

Cell layouts

Cycle times

Collision risks

Accessibility

Process feasibility

Optimize system designs prior to installation.

Utilize tools such as RoboDK, RobotStudio, or similar vendor platforms.

Technical Leadership

Serve as a hands-on technical lead for robotics and factory automation.

Establish technical standards and best practices.

Review designs and automation concepts.

Mentor engineers, technicians, and operators developing robotics capabilities.

Lead projects while remaining actively involved in engineering execution.

Communicate complex technical concepts to cross-functional stakeholders.

Vendor & Technology Management

Evaluate robotics, cobot, AMR, vision, and automation vendors.

Assess new technologies for manufacturing applications.

Coordinate pilots and proof-of-concept deployments.

Determine which technologies should be scaled across manufacturing operations.

Work effectively with external system integrators and equipment vendors.

Manufacturing Safety

Partner with appropriate safety stakeholders throughout robotic-system development.

Conduct and support robotic-system risk assessments.

Ensure robotic and collaborative applications meet applicable machine-safety requirements before production deployment.

Apply knowledge of relevant safety standards such as:

ISO 10218

ISO/TS 15066

ISO 12100

ISO 13849

Documentation & Training

Develop technical documentation for robotic deployments.

Create operating procedures and run books.

Document system configurations, troubleshooting procedures, and maintenance requirements.

Train production teams on the safe and effective operation of automation systems.

Ensure production teams can sustain deployments after engineering hand-off.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in: RoboticsComputer ScienceElectrical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringOr a closely related technical discipline

3+ years of industrial automation or robotics experience

Demonstrated experience deploying automation or robotic systems in alive manufacturing or production environment

Strong combination ofsoftware and mechanical engineering capabilities

Hands-on experience programming and integratingcollaborative robots

Experience integrating:

End-effectors

Grippers

Sensors

Machine vision

Hands-on experience withAMRs and material-handling automation

Experience deploying and integrating AMRs on a factory floor

Experience using robotic simulation and offline programming tools

Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects while remaining personally hands-on

Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities

Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with ROS / ROS 2

Experience with robot simulation or digital-twin platforms

Experience with RoboDK, RobotStudio, or comparable tools

Experience with 2D or 3D machine vision

Experience with force/torque control

Pick-and-place automation experience

AMR fleet-management experience

Integration experience with manufacturing or warehouse execution systems

Electronics manufacturing experience

Semiconductor manufacturing experience

Precision manufacturing experience

High-mix / low-volume manufacturing experience

CAD experience using tools such as: CreoSolidWorksAutoCAD

Relevant robot/cobot vendor certifications

Knowledge of robotic and collaborative-machine safety standards

Ideal Candidate Profile
The strongest candidate will combine: Hands-on cobot programming + AMR deployment + live manufacturing automation + robotics simulation + mechanical/software engineering + full project ownership + technical leadership. Our client is specifically looking for someone who haspersonally deployed robotic systems into production, not someone whose experience has been primarily theoretical, research-based, managerial, or limited to traditional PLC automation. This individual should be comfortable moving between a computer, robot cell, production line, engineering team, technician group, and manufacturing floor as needed.

Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and requirements of the position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. The company reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

Equal Employment Opportunity: HireVenture is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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