Director, Physical AI & Robotics Engineering
This is not a traditional engineering role. You are a Physical AI authority embedded in the project commissioning team technically deep enough to develop machine vision and robotic applications, optimizing robot paths, robotic grippers, and systems integration; experienced enough in automation project management to work with strategic accounts; and credible enough to collaborate with and influence the product organization on making the technology even more compelling.
With your team, you will lead the design, testing, and commissioning of Physical AI technologies as subcomponents of large industrial automation projects and directly with customers.
What You Will Do Responsibilities
- Manage a team of delivery engineers and technicians, providing technical leadership, coaching, and support for their professional and interpersonal growth.
- Serve as the applicative knowledge center for Physical AI, AI-powered robotics, Rapid Operator AI, GRIIPTM, Machine Motion AI, sensor-to-action policies, and the full-stack automation platform as applied to unstructured manufacturing tasks.
- Work cross-functionally from customers to Physical AI Engineering to execute the design, programming, integration, and commissioning of sold automation projects.
- Lead in-house client robotics feasibility assessments and proof-of-concept testing conducted pre-sales on robotics test cells.
- Work with and through other commissioning departments, including Palletizing, EOL, and Custom Machines, to successfully deploy robotics, machine vision, and Physical AI technologies.
- Complete team evaluations, including technical assessments, business reviews, and yearly performance reviews, to ensure team members are meeting objectives and performance targets.
- Build and maintain a Physical AI execution playbook, including technical specifications, Bill of Materials (BOM) documentation, test plans, commissioning standards, and deployment best practices.
- Act as the voice of the field back to Product, Product Marketing, and Engineering, translating technology pitfalls, customer requirements, and field insights into product and automation technology improvement opportunities.
- Drive effective resolution of complex client, project, robotics, controls, and integration issues throughout the automation project lifecycle.
- Support successful delivery of vision-guided robotic applications by applying expertise in robot programming, robot path optimization, end-of-arm tooling, sensing, and industrial automation integration.
What You Bring to the Table Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Controls Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline, with hands-on experience in vision-guided robotic applications.
- 8+ years of experience in industrial robotics, machine vision, and industrial automation applications.
- Demonstrated expertise in robot programming, robotic systems integration, machine vision systems, robotic motion and path optimization, and automation commissioning.
- Strong business acumen and knowledge of project management methodologies, ideally within complex industrial automation or robotics environments.
- Strong ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and successfully resolve a variety of client, project, and technical issues.
- Proven track record of engineering team leadership, people management, coaching, and technical training.
- Experience supporting strategic accounts, customer-facing engineering engagements, and complex automation deployments.
- Exceptional client communication, stakeholder management, and a customer-first mentality.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across Product Management, Engineering, Sales, and Commissioning functions.
- Bilingual in English and French, both spoken and written.
Physical AI, machine vision, robotic applications, robot paths, robotic grippers, systems integration, automation project management, strategic accounts, commissioning, Physical AI technologies, industrial automation, technical leadership, AI-powered robotics, sensor-to-action policies, full-stack automation platform, unstructured manufacturing, design, programming, integration, and commissioning, robotics feasibility assessments, proof-of-concept testing, robotics, technical specifications, Bill of Materials (BOM), test plans, automation technology, client, project, robotics, controls, and integration issues, vision-guided robotic applications, robot programming, robot path optimization, Controls Engineering, Robotics Engineering, industrial robotics, industrial automation applications, robotic systems integration, machine vision systems, project management methodologies, engineering team leadership, client communication, Product Management, Engineering, Sales, and Commissioning, English and French
