Apptronik
Apptronik is building robots for the real world to improve human quality of life and to help solve the ever-increasing labor shortage problem. Our team has been building some of the most advanced robots on the planet for years, dating back to the DARPA Robotics Challenge. We apply our expertise across the full robotics stack to some of the most important and impactful problems our society faces, and expect our products and technology to change the world for the better. We value passion, creativity, and collaboration to help us overcome existing technological barriers in the industry to create truly innovative products.
You will join a team developing state-of-the-art general-purpose robots designed to operate in human spaces and with human tools. It is designed to work alongside humans, mobilize to human spaces, and manipulate the world around it.
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Director of UX, this is a hybrid role for a senior-level designer who's passionate about both understanding users and translating that insight into elegant, functional systems. You'll participate in research and design efforts across human/robot interactions, the teleoperation experience, and the software used to manage individuals and fleets of robots.
You will work closely with the commercial team, support and services team, and in-house users to assess and understand what customers need and what areas of the holistic solution can improve, before collaborating with the rest of the design and product teams to create the necessary interactions and interfaces.
You will work closely with product, industrial design, and engineering to shape intuitive workflows, evaluate concepts, and guide interaction patterns that bring clarity and cohesion to our multi-modal system. This is a hands-on, foundational role that will help set the tone, structure, and standards for how UX is practiced at Apptronik.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Lead user research from planning and protocol development to synthesis and communication of insights to inform design strategy and system-level thinking. Design user flows and interactions across robotic interfaces, VR, and fleet management software. Facilitate workshops and design activities with cross-functional teams to explore concepts, prioritize ideas, and build alignment. Develop and maintain user personas, journey maps, and other artifacts that represent the needs of internal, external, and end-users. Conduct usability testing of early concepts and prototypes to evaluate clarity, safety, and learnability. Help establish foundational tools, templates, and processes for a growing UX practice in a startup environment. Collaborate closely with product managers and engineers to bring research-driven design into real-world applications. Adapt your work to different time scales-supporting quick-turn testing as well as long-term vision building. SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS: Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct, and synthesize both generative and evaluative research. Strong interaction design skills with a portfolio that shows systems thinking and complex workflows. Experience designing for hardware-software systems, industrial environments, or technical tools preferred. Skilled at creating design artifacts that clarify and influence, from flows and prototypes to maps and concept boards. Excellent facilitation and communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences. Familiarity with design tools including Figma & Miro. Comfortable working in ambiguity and shaping structure as the team grows. Passionate about working at the forefront of human-robot collaboration EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
7+ years of experience in user experience design, user research, or a hybrid UX role. Bachelor's degree in User Experience Design, Graphic Design or equivalent field of study or equivalent experience Experience in robotics, automation, or mission-critical systems. Exposure to VR interface design, spatial interaction, or 3D prototyping tools. Background in service design, enterprise-level software, or systems thinking in complex environments. Familiarity with safety standards or ethical frameworks for human-robot interaction. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen Hearing and speech to communicate As a Senior Staff Systems Engineer at Apptronik, you will play a pivotal role in the development of advanced, general-purpose robots designed to operate in human environments and work with human tools. This position requires deep experience in robotics systems design, scaling complex systems, and the ability to balance technical vision with pragmatic execution. You must be able to thrive in a fast-paced, cross functional development environment. This position is based at Apptronik's Austin Headquarters.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Architect and evolve Apptronik robot hardware and software platforms, driving reliability, modularity, scalability, and maintainability. Lead Systems requirement definition and integration across hardware, embedded controls, capabilities, and operator interfaces. Design for real-time performance, fault tolerance, and reliability in a production environment Provide technical leadership, mentorship and guidance across the engineering teams. Collaborate with hardware, software and operation teams to ensure seamless robot operations and fleet-level orchestration Design and develop requirements for real-time monitoring, data logging and remote diagnostics for production scale robot fleets Drive and support root cause failure analysis and fault recovery mechanism to enhance uptime and performance SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS:
10+ years in systems and/or software engineering with at least 5+ in complex robotics systems or autonomous systems Deep experience in designing and scaling complex hardware and software systems for real-time robotics applications Proven leadership in shipping production grade robotics platforms in manufacturing, logistics, autonomous systems or related domains Strong grasp of robotics architecture patterns, real-time control loops, sensor fusion, SLAM and distributed systems. Expertise in C++, Python, and system lead development (RTOS, Linux, embedded Linux). Extensive experience with ROS2, DDS and real-time communication protocols Strong background in systems architecture, software abstraction layers and interface design Experience with software reliability engineering, including logging, telemetry, debugging, and automated test frameworks Hands-on experience scaling robot fleets in industrial or warehouse environments Familiarity with safety standards (e.g. ISO 10218, IEC 61508) and compliance in robotic deployments Experience with AI/ML systems integration into real-time robotic applications Systems level thought leader who thrives on solving cross-disciplinary problems Collaborative, communicated and motivated by leading a tight knit team of expert engineers Adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity in an R&D focused environment EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
B.S. Degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Automotive, Mechanical or Electrical preferred 10+ years in systems and/or software engineering with at least 5+ in complex robotics systems or autonomous systems PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen Hearing and speech to communicate Perks:
Competitive salary w/ benefits Highly motivating equity incentive package Flexible work hours policy Professional development opportunities Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) 401k plan
*This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.
Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
You will join a team developing state-of-the-art general-purpose robots designed to operate in human spaces and with human tools. It is designed to work alongside humans, mobilize to human spaces, and manipulate the world around it.
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Director of UX, this is a hybrid role for a senior-level designer who's passionate about both understanding users and translating that insight into elegant, functional systems. You'll participate in research and design efforts across human/robot interactions, the teleoperation experience, and the software used to manage individuals and fleets of robots.
You will work closely with the commercial team, support and services team, and in-house users to assess and understand what customers need and what areas of the holistic solution can improve, before collaborating with the rest of the design and product teams to create the necessary interactions and interfaces.
You will work closely with product, industrial design, and engineering to shape intuitive workflows, evaluate concepts, and guide interaction patterns that bring clarity and cohesion to our multi-modal system. This is a hands-on, foundational role that will help set the tone, structure, and standards for how UX is practiced at Apptronik.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Lead user research from planning and protocol development to synthesis and communication of insights to inform design strategy and system-level thinking. Design user flows and interactions across robotic interfaces, VR, and fleet management software. Facilitate workshops and design activities with cross-functional teams to explore concepts, prioritize ideas, and build alignment. Develop and maintain user personas, journey maps, and other artifacts that represent the needs of internal, external, and end-users. Conduct usability testing of early concepts and prototypes to evaluate clarity, safety, and learnability. Help establish foundational tools, templates, and processes for a growing UX practice in a startup environment. Collaborate closely with product managers and engineers to bring research-driven design into real-world applications. Adapt your work to different time scales-supporting quick-turn testing as well as long-term vision building. SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS: Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct, and synthesize both generative and evaluative research. Strong interaction design skills with a portfolio that shows systems thinking and complex workflows. Experience designing for hardware-software systems, industrial environments, or technical tools preferred. Skilled at creating design artifacts that clarify and influence, from flows and prototypes to maps and concept boards. Excellent facilitation and communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences. Familiarity with design tools including Figma & Miro. Comfortable working in ambiguity and shaping structure as the team grows. Passionate about working at the forefront of human-robot collaboration EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
7+ years of experience in user experience design, user research, or a hybrid UX role. Bachelor's degree in User Experience Design, Graphic Design or equivalent field of study or equivalent experience Experience in robotics, automation, or mission-critical systems. Exposure to VR interface design, spatial interaction, or 3D prototyping tools. Background in service design, enterprise-level software, or systems thinking in complex environments. Familiarity with safety standards or ethical frameworks for human-robot interaction. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen Hearing and speech to communicate As a Senior Staff Systems Engineer at Apptronik, you will play a pivotal role in the development of advanced, general-purpose robots designed to operate in human environments and work with human tools. This position requires deep experience in robotics systems design, scaling complex systems, and the ability to balance technical vision with pragmatic execution. You must be able to thrive in a fast-paced, cross functional development environment. This position is based at Apptronik's Austin Headquarters.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Architect and evolve Apptronik robot hardware and software platforms, driving reliability, modularity, scalability, and maintainability. Lead Systems requirement definition and integration across hardware, embedded controls, capabilities, and operator interfaces. Design for real-time performance, fault tolerance, and reliability in a production environment Provide technical leadership, mentorship and guidance across the engineering teams. Collaborate with hardware, software and operation teams to ensure seamless robot operations and fleet-level orchestration Design and develop requirements for real-time monitoring, data logging and remote diagnostics for production scale robot fleets Drive and support root cause failure analysis and fault recovery mechanism to enhance uptime and performance SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS:
10+ years in systems and/or software engineering with at least 5+ in complex robotics systems or autonomous systems Deep experience in designing and scaling complex hardware and software systems for real-time robotics applications Proven leadership in shipping production grade robotics platforms in manufacturing, logistics, autonomous systems or related domains Strong grasp of robotics architecture patterns, real-time control loops, sensor fusion, SLAM and distributed systems. Expertise in C++, Python, and system lead development (RTOS, Linux, embedded Linux). Extensive experience with ROS2, DDS and real-time communication protocols Strong background in systems architecture, software abstraction layers and interface design Experience with software reliability engineering, including logging, telemetry, debugging, and automated test frameworks Hands-on experience scaling robot fleets in industrial or warehouse environments Familiarity with safety standards (e.g. ISO 10218, IEC 61508) and compliance in robotic deployments Experience with AI/ML systems integration into real-time robotic applications Systems level thought leader who thrives on solving cross-disciplinary problems Collaborative, communicated and motivated by leading a tight knit team of expert engineers Adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity in an R&D focused environment EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
B.S. Degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Automotive, Mechanical or Electrical preferred 10+ years in systems and/or software engineering with at least 5+ in complex robotics systems or autonomous systems PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen Hearing and speech to communicate Perks:
Competitive salary w/ benefits Highly motivating equity incentive package Flexible work hours policy Professional development opportunities Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) 401k plan
*This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.
Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.