Manager, Robotics Software Engineering

The Manager, Robotics Software Engineering leads a multidisciplinary team of engineers across core robotics domains. This role is pivotal in directing the design, implementation, and optimization of system architecture, software engineering standards, and rigorous testing and validation protocols to maximize the performance and reliability of our Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). The Manager, Robotics Software Engineering ensures cohesive integration at the system level, aligning perception, path planning, control algorithms, and software infrastructure, and collaborates closely with hardware and software teams to deliver robust, safety-critical solutions. This position also emphasizes cultivating a high-performance engineering culture through strategic leadership, talent acquisition, and technical mentorship, advancing the development of innovative and industry-leading robotics solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support product and technology roadmaps, staying informed about trends and innovations to drive future robotics capabilities.
• Develop deployment and maintenance strategies for remotely deployed systems, ensuring efficient and reliable field performance.
• Engage external vendors to define product requirements and assess solution feasibility for ArcBest's customer needs.
• Oversee system-level integration, ensuring effective collaboration across software and hardware teams to deliver safety-critical robotics solutions.
• Drive research projects from conception to deployment, including defining problems, testing hypotheses, iterating, and delivering results.
• Promote a positive employee experience by nurturing a skilled, accountable workforce that emphasizes professionalism and urgency in meeting deadlines and customer requirements.
• Lead the design and implementation of system architecture, software design principles, and agile development practices to enhance performance and reliability of AMRs.
• Conduct regular standups, set short and long-term goals, manage individual team performance, and define the direction for planned R&D projects and initiatives.
• Provide strategic leadership to a team of robotics engineers across multiple domains, fostering a motivating, fun, and collaborative environment.
• Recruit, develop, and retain top engineering talent, building a culture that encourages creativity, growth, and high-performance standards.
• Mentor team members, document progress, and lead by example by proactively testing developments directly on robotic systems.
• Research emerging technologies and the latest advancements in autonomous path-following, motion planning, computer vision, and automation for AMRs.
• Define machine-level performance standards and feature targets to meet rigorous testing and real-world deployment requirements.
• Act as a technical expert in areas like motion planning, safety, perception, planning, and fleet management, and oversee a digital twin model for simulations.
• Oversee cybersecurity protocols and support systems for networking, hardware communication, and remote deployments to ensure system integrity and safety.
• Architect and implement software solutions for state-of-the-art motion planning and path-following algorithms optimized for AMRs, ensuring kinematic and dynamic feasibility.
• Provide expertise in advanced path planning, motion planning, perception, SLAM, and controls, ensuring implementation of cutting-edge robotics algorithms.
• Design and implement a CI pipeline, develop reliable control software, and supervise the development of full-stack tools and infrastructure for robotic systems.
• Supervise the transition from electro-mechanical assembly to fully operational, field-ready robotics systems, bridging the gap between hardware and software components.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned, adapting to evolving business and customer needs.
• Collaborate with customer deployment teams to ensure successful product deployment, providing technical support as needed.
• Implement data visualization, metrics, testing frameworks, and triage systems to analyze, diagnose, and resolve performance limitations of robotic systems.
• Maintain a positive, proactive attitude in a fast-paced environment.
• Oversee comprehensive testing procedures to ensure AMR system performance, reliability, and adherence to industry standards.

Requirements

Education:

• Master's Degree or PhD in Mechanical/Mechatronics/Electrical/Aerospace/Computer Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or equivalent experience, preferred

Experience:

• 4 years of experience in robotics or autonomous vehicle hardware and software integration.

Computer Skills:

• Strong systems analysis and design skills, required

Additional Requirements:

• Strong understanding of Linux systems, including embedded, drivers, and administration.
• Strong understanding of testing methodology for reliability and performance.
• Understanding of CI systems and methodologies.
• Familiar with design of complex software systems.
• Understanding of security concerns and mitigation in industrial equipment, robotics, network, etc.
• Understanding of computer networking design, implantation, and best practices.
• Ability to quickly understand design, implementation, and implications of emerging technologies.
• Strong C and C++ programming skills, knowledge of algorithms and data structures, and experience in software architecture and design.
• Proven track record of cross-team collaboration on robotics or autonomy stacks/infrastructure and simulation tools.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Business Acumen
• Business Ethics
• Communicating Complex Concepts
• Customer Focus
• Effectiveness Measurement
• Robotics/Computer Controlled Machinery

Other Details

Work Hours:

• Generally, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm with occasional irregular hours depending on workload.

Travel Requirements:

• Occasional (25%-50%)

Compensation:

• This is a salary position paid biweekly.