Chief Technology Office

Kelly Services; Woburn (MA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive executive compensation

Equity ownership

Hands-on leadership in cutting-edge AI

Job summary

Kelly Services is seeking a hands-on Chief Technology Officer for a robotics startup focused on the automotive industry. This full-time leadership role combines deep technical expertise with building and guiding a high-performing engineering organization, driving robotics, automation, motion, and controls from prototype to production.

The ideal candidate will work in the lab, review designs, troubleshoot systems, and influence the technology roadmap and engineering culture from an early stage.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of robotics, automation, or related field.
• Hands-on robotics engineering experience.
• Experience taking robotic systems from concept to production.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong software and hardware integration experience.
• Ability to move between high-level technical strategy and detailed engineering.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the company's overall technical strategy and robotics roadmap.
• Lead the development of robotic systems from early prototypes through production.
• Work directly with engineers on difficult technical and system-level challenges.
• Make architecture and technology decisions across robotics hardware and software.
• Lead integration of mechanical, electrical, controls, perception, and software systems.
• Establish engineering processes, standards, and development practices.
• Build, mentor, and grow a world-class robotics engineering team.
• Recruit and retain key technical talent as the company scales.
• Oversee prototyping, testing, validation, and deployment of robotic systems.
• Work closely with customers and partners to translate real-world requirements into technical solutions.
• Evaluate new robotics technologies, platforms, and tools.
• Troubleshoot system-level problems and help the engineering team get to root cause quickly.
• Balance technical performance, reliability, cost, and time-to-market considerations.
• Help establish the company’s engineering culture and technical vision.
• Communicate technical progress, risks, and roadmap decisions to company leadership and investors.

Skills

Robotics

Hands-on engineering

System integration

Team leadership

Hardware/software integration

Prototyping to production

Technical roadmap

Robotics software

Electrical controls

Mechanical interfaces

Communication

Education

B.S. in Robotics, ME, EE, CS, or related field

Master’s or PhD in a relevant engineering field

Tools

ROS/ROS2

C++

Python

Embedded systems

Job description

$250000 - $300000

We are seeking a hands-on Chief Technology Officer to join an innovative robotics startup focused on the automotive industry. This is a full-time leadership opportunity for an experienced robotics engineer who can combine deep technical expertise with the ability to build and lead a high-performing engineering organization. You’ll be responsible for the technical direction of the company, with a strong focus on robotics, automation, motion, controls, and taking technology from prototype through production.

This is not a traditional CTO role where you’re removed from the engineering work. The ideal candidate will be in the lab, working with the team, reviewing designs, troubleshooting systems, and helping solve difficult robotics problems. You’ll have significant influence over the company’s technology roadmap and the opportunity to help shape both the product and engineering culture from an early stage. If you enjoy building things from the ground up and want to have a direct impact on the future of automotive automation, this is an opportunity to make a major impact.

Required Skills & Experience

• 8+ years of experience in robotics, automation, controls, or a closely related field
• Significant hands-on robotics engineering experience
• Experience taking robotic systems from concept and prototyping through deployment or production
• Strong understanding of robotics systems, including motion, controls, sensing, actuation, and system integration
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Strong software and hardware integration experience
• Experience troubleshooting complex robotic systems in a hands-on environment
• Experience developing technical roadmaps and making architecture decisions
• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, controls, and software interfaces within robotic systems
• Ability to move between high-level technical strategy and detailed engineering problems
• Strong communication skills and ability to work directly with engineers, customers, and company leadership
• Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience in automotive manufacturing, robotics, or industrial automation
• Experience with ROS/ROS2
• Experience with robotic arms, manipulators, autonomous systems, or industrial robots
• Experience with motion planning and control systems
• Experience with computer vision, perception, or sensor fusion
• Experience with PLCs, industrial controls, or factory automation
• Experience with C++, Python, or similar robotics-focused programming languages
• Experience with embedded systems and real-time controls
• Experience designing systems for high reliability and production environments
• Experience working with automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, or manufacturing organizations
• Experience hiring and building engineering teams at an early-stage company
• Startup experience in a technical leadership role
• Master’s or PhD in a relevant engineering or technical discipline

What You Will Be Doing

• Define and own the company's overall technical strategy and robotics roadmap
• Lead the development of robotic systems from early prototypes through production
• Work directly with engineers on difficult technical and system-level challenges
• Make architecture and technology decisions across robotics hardware and software
• Lead integration of mechanical, electrical, controls, perception, and software systems
• Establish engineering processes, standards, and development practices
• Build, mentor, and grow a world-class robotics engineering team
• Recruit and retain key technical talent as the company scales
• Oversee prototyping, testing, validation, and deployment of robotic systems
• Work closely with customers and partners to translate real-world requirements into technical solutions
• Evaluate new robotics technologies, platforms, and tools
• Troubleshoot system-level problems and help the engineering team get to root cause quickly
• Balance technical performance, reliability, cost, and time-to-market considerations
• Help establish the company’s engineering culture and technical vision
• Communicate technical progress, risks, and roadmap decisions to company leadership and investors

Tech Breakdown

• 30% Robotics Systems / Motion / Controls
• 20% Hands-On Engineering & System Integration
• 15% Technical Architecture & Product Development
• 15% Engineering Leadership & Team Building
• 10% Software / Embedded Systems
• 10% Customer, Partner & Executive Collaboration

Daily Responsibilities

• 40% Hands-On Robotics Engineering
• 20% Technical Leadership & Problem Solving
• 15% Team Building & Mentorship
• 15% Product / Technology Strategy
• 10% Customer & Business Collaboration

The Offer

• Competitive executive-level compensation
• Equity opportunity in an early-stage robotics company
• Significant ownership over the company’s technology direction
• Opportunity to build and lead a robotics engineering organization
• Hands-on involvement in cutting-edge automotive robotics
• Direct impact on product development and company strategy
• Opportunity to work alongside a highly technical founding team
• Fast-paced startup environment with significant room for growth

You will receive the following benefits:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Benefits
• Vision Benefits
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401(k)
• Equity Participation
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Flexible Startup Environment
• Career Growth and Leadership Opportunities

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US on a full-time basis now and in the future.

Motion Recruitment Partners (MRP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants must be currently authorized to work on a full-time basis in the country for which they are applying, and no sponsorship is currently available. Employment is subject to the successful completion of a pre-employment screening. Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under MRP’s Employment Accommodation policy. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.