Senior / Lead Robotics & Automation Engineer

Job Description

Industrial Robotics | Intelligent Manufacturing | Autonomous Factory Systems

About iRocket

Innovative Rocket Technologies (iRocket) is an aerospace and defense technology company developing advanced propulsion systems, solid rocket motors, and next-generation automated manufacturing capabilities.

Our mission is to transform how critical aerospace and defense hardware is manufactured by combining industrial robotics, precision machining, artificial intelligence, machine vision, and intelligent factory automation.

We are building a scalable manufacturing platform designed to enable high-rate, repeatable, and increasingly autonomous production.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an exceptional Senior / Lead Robotics & Automation Engineer to take technical ownership of developing and integrating our next generation of automated manufacturing systems.

This is a hands-on engineering position for someone who enjoys building real hardware, writing software, troubleshooting equipment, and taking complex automation projects from concept through commissioning.

You will work with industrial robotic arms, CNC machining centers, automated material-handling equipment, machine vision systems, and industrial controls to create integrated production environments.

The successful candidate will help develop automation capabilities that connect individual manufacturing cells into an intelligent, coordinated factory.

We are looking for a builder and problem-solver, not someone who only manages automation projects.

Key Responsibilities

Robotics & Industrial Automation

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• Design, develop, program, integrate, and commission industrial robotic systems for automated manufacturing.
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• Program and integrate robotic arms, including FANUC, Universal Robots, or comparable industrial robotics platforms.
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• Develop automated CNC machine tending, robotic loading/unloading, pick-and-place, material handling, and assembly applications.
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• Design robotic workcells, including tooling, end effectors, sensors, and control interfaces.
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• Optimize robotic movements, production cycle times, operational reliability, and equipment utilization.
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Automation, Controls & Software

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• Develop and integrate industrial automation software, PLC controls, machine interfaces, and supervisory control systems.
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• Establish reliable communication between robots, CNC machines, sensors, mixers, inspection equipment, and supporting manufacturing systems.
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• Develop software for machine coordination, equipment status monitoring, workflow sequencing, and fault recovery.
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• Integrate manufacturing equipment with MES, MRP, ERP, and production data systems.
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• Support development of centralized factory-management software capable of coordinating multiple automated production cells.
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Machine Vision & Intelligent Manufacturing

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• Develop or integrate computer vision systems for automated inspection, part identification, quality verification, and process monitoring.
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• Implement industrial cameras, sensors, and machine vision software to improve production quality and consistency.
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• Support AI-enabled monitoring, predictive maintenance, and data-driven optimization as manufacturing data and system maturity allow.
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• Develop automated data collection and traceability across manufacturing operations.
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Advanced Manufacturing & System Development

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• Support development of modular, scalable, and deployable automated manufacturing cells.
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• Evaluate and integrate autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and automated material-transport systems where appropriate.
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• Lead prototype development, integration, debugging, testing, and commissioning.
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• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, propulsion, software, and quality engineering teams.
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• Establish appropriate industrial safety controls, equipment documentation, operating procedures, and validation methods.
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• Work directly with production equipment and manufacturing personnel to translate engineering concepts into reliable, repeatable manufacturing operations.
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Required Qualifications

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• Bachelor's degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a closely related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated hands-on experience.
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• 5+ years of relevant professional experience in robotics, industrial automation, manufacturing automation, or mechatronics. Candidates with 10+ years of experience are especially encouraged to apply.
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• Demonstrated experience personally programming, integrating, and commissioning industrial robots or automated manufacturing equipment.
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• Strong programming and troubleshooting skills involving robotics and industrial control systems.
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• Experience with Python, C++, PLC programming, or comparable automation software development.
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• Working knowledge of industrial sensors, actuators, motor controls, electrical interfaces, and communication protocols.
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• Experience integrating mechanical, electrical, and software components into functional automated systems.
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• Ability to independently diagnose equipment, controls, software, and integration problems.
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• Strong practical engineering judgment and willingness to work directly with hardware on the manufacturing floor.
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Highly Desired Experience

Candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas will receive strong consideration:

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• FANUC, Universal Robots, ABB, KUKA, or comparable industrial robotic platforms.
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• Okuma or other CNC machining centers and automated machine-tending applications.
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• Rockwell / Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or comparable industrial PLC systems.
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• ROS / ROS2, industrial robot APIs, and robotic motion control.
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• Machine vision, OpenCV, industrial cameras, or AI-assisted visual inspection.
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• Autonomous mobile robots, particularly MiR systems and fleet management.
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• Industrial networking protocols including OPC UA, EtherNet/IP, Modbus, and PROFINET.
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• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Material Requirements Planning (MRP), and digital manufacturing integration.
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• Industrial IoT, edge computing, manufacturing telemetry, and digital twins.
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• Automated assembly, high-volume production, and modular manufacturing.
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• Aerospace, defense, automotive, semiconductor, or similarly advanced industrial manufacturing environments.
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• Experience developing automation systems for safety-critical or highly regulated processes.
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Prior aerospace or rocket propulsion experience is advantageous but not required. We place greater value on candidates who have successfully developed and deployed complex industrial automation systems.

What Makes This Opportunity Different

Unlike many robotics positions focused on maintaining established systems, this role offers the opportunity to help build an automation platform from the ground up.

You will have meaningful technical ownership, direct involvement with advanced manufacturing equipment, and the opportunity to influence the architecture of a growing industrial manufacturing platform.

Successful candidates will contribute to systems spanning robotic manufacturing cells, machine vision, intelligent material handling, and factory-wide automation software.

Work Location & Availability

This position is based exclusively at iRocket's manufacturing facility in Hauppauge, New York. Candidates must be willing to work on-site.

Benefits

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• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
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• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
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• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
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• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
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• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
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• Short Term & Long Term Disability
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• Wellness Resources
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