Forward Deployed Robotics Engineer
Role Overview
As a Forward Deployed Robotics Engineer, you'll serve as the first line of technical defense for our growing fleet of robotic systems deployed across warehouse and external data-collection environments. Our diverse robot fleet-including both static and mobile systems-performs complex manipulation and sensing tasks in real-world settings. When issues arise, you'll be the first responder: analyzing field tickets, reproducing issues, gathering diagnostic data, and driving resolution to ensure maximum fleet uptime.
Key Responsibilities
- Primary Robot Fleet Issue Technical Triage Point: Manage incoming fleet issue ticket queue, prioritize based on fleet-wide implications and operational goals, and triage as hardware, software, or operational issue.
- Fast-Paced Operations: Handle quick turnaround expectations while maintaining diagnostic quality
- On-Site Diagnostics: Perform physical inspections and functional tests at robot stations to verify issue reproduction
- Data Analysis: Analyze telemetry, sensor data, and logs to form and test hypotheses about root causes
- Failure Analysis: Execute technically sound Failure Analysis / Root Cause Analysis procedures
- Cross-Team Collaboration: Partner with hardware and software teams to reproduce and resolve complex issues
- Pattern Recognition: Identify recurring issues across the fleet and surface reliability insights for design improvements
- Documentation: Maintain clear, traceable documentation for every diagnostic and escalation event
- Metrics & Reporting: Track and report issue trends and fleet health metrics to leadership
- Process Improvement: Collaborate with team lead to develop and maintain diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting guides
Required Competencies & Skills
- Education: B.S. in Robotics, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering, or equivalent experience
- Hardware Knowledge: Proficiency debugging electromechanical systems including actuators, PCBs, cameras, wiring harnesses, and communication hardware
- Software Knowledge: Experience with log parsing and basic scripting for diagnostics (Python or Bash)
- Systems Knowledge: Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, and software interactions in robotic systems
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication, particularly in technical documentation and shift handoffs
- Hands-On Problem Solving Experience: Minimum 2 years work experience with debugging and completing root cause investigations of systems with hardware and software issues
Strongly Preferred:
Experience supporting multi-robot fleets, warehouse automation systems, or field robotics deployments
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.