Application Engineer

Chef Robotics is accelerating deployment of intelligent robots in food production, a sector with the largest labor shortage in the U.S. We build AI‑powered robots that automate food prep and assembly in commercial kitchens and food manufacturing. About the Role We are hiring an Applications Engineer to serve as the vital link between our customers and our engineering teams. This role spans the full customer journey, from early technical evaluation through deployment, production ramp‑up, and long‑term success, driving both customer success and product excellence. Responsibilities Partner with Sales and Product teams during early customer engagements to assess needs, identify opportunities, and evaluate technical feasibility. Work directly with customers’ engineering and operations teams to understand processes, challenges, and success metrics. Configure, test, and validate Chef’s robotic systems in the lab, working closely with R&D to adapt to each customer’s unique production environment. Lead and project‑manage deployments, coordinating across engineering, manufacturing, and customer teams to ensure smooth installations. Lead on‑site deployments, including installation, qualification testing, and production hardening. Work hands‑on with the systems to test new software, configurations, and resolve break‑fix hardware repairs. Provide post‑deployment support to ensure customer satisfaction and identify opportunities for product and feature expansion. Capture customer feedback and translate it into actionable insights for product and engineering teams. Serve as the technical face of Chef Robotics, representing our engineering rigor and commitment to customer success. Qualifications A passion for seeing technology make tangible impact. Ability to thrive in dynamic, fast‑paced settings and manage multiple deployments, customers, and competing priorities. Excellent communication skills to translate between technical and non‑technical stakeholders. Self‑driven and resourceful, with bias for action and ability to work autonomously in the field. Requirements BS or MS in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. 2+ years of experience in applications engineering, deployment, solutions engineering, field robotics, or a similar customer‑facing technical role. Prior experience in at least one of robotics, motion planning, perception, controls or automation systems. Willingness to travel up to 75% across North America to support customer deployments and on‑site work. Familiarity with Linux/Unix, Robot Operating System (ROS), and scripting in Python. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills; comfortable collaborating across technical and operations teams with customers. Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision. Flexibility to support customers on weekends, nights, and on‑call hours. Why You’ll Love Working Here Be part of a mission‑driven team transforming one of the world’s largest industries. Work hands‑on with cutting‑edge robotic systems solving real‑world problems. Collaborate with a world‑class cross‑functional team of roboticists, engineers, and operators. Build rare multidisciplinary expertise at the intersection of robotics, operations, and customer success. Benefit from professional growth with exposure to leadership and technical career paths. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; commuter benefits; flexible paid time off (PTO); catered lunch; and 401(k) matching. #J-18808-Ljbffr