Automation Engineer

Standard Bots; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Options

Paid time off

Medical insurance

Dental / Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k)

Job summary

Standard Bots in Philadelphia is seeking an Automation Engineer focused on turn-key robotic integration. You will be the hands-on technical owner from site assessment through installation, programming, testing, and handoff, ensuring uptime and safety.

You will design cell layouts, program robots, troubleshoot with maintenance teams, and deliver training and documentation. A background in robotics, PLCs, and vision systems is preferred, with a drive to improve processes and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of hands-on robotics integration in manufacturing.
• Experience programming cobots or industrial robots.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Mechatronics/Robotics.

Responsibilities

• Design and plan robotic cell integration and layouts.
• Program robots and integrate with PLCs and ERP systems.
• Lead on-site installation, commissioning, and handoff to customers.
• Provide training and deliver clear as-built documentation.
• Troubleshoot and support post-deployment improvements.

Skills

Robotics integration

Robot programming

Kinematics knowledge

Safety standards

Project management

Education

Robotics engineering degree

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Cognex Vision

Allen-Bradley PLC

Job description

Propel human productivity through the world’s most accessible robots.

People don't work at Standard Bots to make robots. They work here to make tomorrow easier. It’s fascinating, rewarding, and most of all, incredibly difficult to do. That’s why we’re searching for people who are up for the challenge. Who are optimistic about the future. Who are hell-bent on accelerating human progress through the integration of hardware, software, firmware, and electronics. If you’re as motivated by the possibilities as we are, join us.

Automation Engineer

Location

Philadelphia, PA

Employment Type

Full time

Location Type

On-site

Department

Implementation

About Standard Bots

Standard Bots is a New York-based robotics company building AI-powered six-axis robot arms designed and manufactured in the United States. Founded to make industrial automation more accessible and affordable, Standard Bots takes a vertically integrated approach — developing its own hardware, software, vision system, and electronics — so manufacturers of all sizes can deploy robots without specialized expertise or coding skills. Standard Bots' robots are trusted by organizations ranging from independent machine shops to NASA and Lockheed Martin. Standard Bots is the largest U.S. industrial robotics company by robots shipped and one of the fastest-growing in the industry.

Location

This role is onsite 5 days/week onsite in our South East PA shop

Role overview

As an Automation Engineer focused on turn-key robotic integration, you will be the hands-on technical owner for deploying Standard Bots solutions at customer manufacturing sites. You'll take projects from initial site assessment and cell design through installation, programming, testing, and customer handoff — ensuring every deployment runs reliably and exceeds uptime expectations. You're equally comfortable in a conference room drawing cell layouts and on a factory floor running cables, tuning vision systems, and troubleshooting with maintenance teams. You hold yourself to high standards on safety, documentation, and customer satisfaction.

What you'll do

Integration Design & Planning

• Conduct site surveys and process reviews to define robotic cell architecture, end-of-arm tooling, fixturing, and safety zone layout

• Develop detailed integration specifications, I/O maps, wiring diagrams, and risk assessments

• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to size and select peripheral equipment — grippers, conveyors, sensors, vision systems, and safety hardware

Robot Programming & Commissioning

• Program robots using Standard Bots' toolchain; develop motion paths, force control routines, and vision-guided pick logic

• Integrate robots with PLCs, HMIs, MES, and customer ERP systems via standard industrial protocols (EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Modbus TCP)

• Perform FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing) and SAT (Site Acceptance Testing), resolving mechanical, electrical, and software punch list items

• Commission safety systems including laser scanners, light curtains, area mats, and collaborative-mode force/speed monitoring

Customer Deployment & Handoff

• Lead on-site installation and startup, coordinating with customer facilities, maintenance, and production teams

• Develop and deliver operator and maintenance training programs tailored to each customer's technical maturity

• Produce clear, accurate as-built documentation: wiring diagrams, PLC I/O lists, robot program backups, and maintenance SOPs

Ongoing Support & Improvement

• Provide remote and on-site troubleshooting support during the warranty and post deployment period

• Track field issues and communicate root causes and corrective actions to the product and engineering teams

• Identify process improvement opportunities across the integration practice: reusable code libraries, template cell designs, and commissioning checklists

What you’ll bring

• 3–5 years of hands‑on experience integrating industrial or collaborative robots in a manufacturing environment

• Demonstrated track record of leading complete turn‑key automation projects from design through customer acceptance

• Experience programming cobots or industrial robots (e.g., Universal Robots, Fanuc, KUKA, ABB, or equivalent); Standard Bots training provided

Technical Skills

• Solid understanding of robot kinematics, end-of-arm tooling selection, and collaborative safety standards

• PLC programming experience (Allen Bradley, Siemens, or equivalent) and familiarity with industrial networking protocols

• Proficiency in 2D/3D CAD tools (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar) for cell layout and fixture design

• Hands‑on electrical skills: reading schematics, panel wiring, and basic troubleshooting with a multimeter and oscilloscope

• Familiarity with machine vision systems (Cognex, Keyence, or similar) for part detection and guidance

Soft Skills & Mindset

• Strong project management instincts: you track open items, communicate proactively, and deliver on time

• Customer‑facing confidence: comfortable presenting technical plans to operations managers and C‑suite stakeholders alike

• Detail‑oriented, disciplined, self‑directed, and resourceful

Nice to have

• Experience with ROS2 or other robot middleware frameworks

• Background in machine tending, palletizing, welding automation, or assembly applications

• Familiarity with OEE metrics and lean manufacturing principles (5S, Kaizen, SMED)

• OSHA 10/30 courses or equivalent manufacturing safety training

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or Robotics Engineering (or equivalent practical experience)

• Experience deploying automation in regulated industries (FDA, automotive IATF 16949)

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $80,000 to $150,000. We are open to a variety of seniority levels for this role and will build compensation packages that are commensurate with seniority and skill level. Base salary is just one part of the overall compensation at Standard Bots. All Full-Time Employees are eligible for Employee Stock Options. We also offer a package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees.

Informed by history. Inspired by the future. Not long ago, computers were hobbyist projects. They were clunky, limited machines fiddled with only by highly-trained engineers. Then came the Apple II, a marvel of vertical integration that became the first "complete, ready-to-use computer". And in an instant, everything changed. Computing became a productivity curve bender. A tool that could be used by anybody. A joyful, interesting, and easy way to get things done. At Standard Bots, we're taking a similar approach. We're designing better hardware and easier-to-use software together to once again accelerate what humans are capable of achieving — this time, with robots. The amount of work to get there is immense, but so is the opportunity.

Leadership team

Evan Beard Co-Founder, CEO

David Golden Co-Founder

Zach Tomkinson President

Ashley Higgins Chief Strategy Officer

Rohan Mehra VP, Operations

Hunjoo Kim Head of Manufacturing Operations

Lee Gross Head of Software

Robert Irwin Head ofHardware

Kelsee Hober Head of Product

Leif Jentoft Head of AI Solutions

Lars Bach Head of System Architecture

Our Investors

General Catalyst Website

Amazon Industrial Fund Website

Samsung Next Website

Box Group Website

There’s a lot to be said about robotics.

See what customers are saying about Standard Bots. And read through what journalists, economists, and experts in the field are saying about where things stand with robotics, and where they’re heading. "I've worked with UR and Kuka and all these other robots and found your robots to be very slick...I have never seen any other robot of this particular size and character perform this very well." Tamil Amazon "After working with your robot at the TMMI facility I have setup a call with a factory in Denver for a 12 robot opportunity - I never thought robots would become so easy to use." Aaron TMMI "We've had a UR robot which wasn't ever easy to program even for our operators that know code, but our operator who doesn't know code was able to set up Standard Bots in a day." Henry Mac Products "It's already obvious there is a night and day difference between them and legacy robotics arms." Kenneth Reason Robotics Literature from thought leaders: American workers need lots and lots of robots With the power of automation, our workers can win. Without it, they're in trouble. Noahpinion Robots Pick Up More Work at Busy Factories Workplace robot orders jumped by 40% during this year’s first quarter; ‘Before, you could throw people at a problem'