Manager, Test Operations New Austin, TX

Apptronik; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Apptronik is seeking a Manager, Test Operations to lead hands‑on efforts in developing manufacturing test software and hardware for robots. You will guide automated testing, system integration, and tooling across the factory floor, collaborating with test, validation, firmware, and manufacturing teams.

The role emphasizes scalable test frameworks, maintainable tooling, and reliable deployment in fast‑paced robotics production, with travel up to 20% and strong leadership responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or related field.
• 5+ years leading complex electromechanical system test development for automated manufacturing systems.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management; able to represent the team to senior leadership and customers.
• Proven technical leadership — leading engineers and owning delivery of complex, cross‑disciplinary systems.
• Formal people‑management experience — hiring, developing, and directing a team.
• Willingness to travel to manufacturing sites, up to 20%.
• Experience leading teams in embedded systems, hardware/software integration, serial communication protocols, and networked systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team that deploys manufacturing test software and hardware for PCBAs, actuators, cable harnesses, electromechanical subassemblies, and full robot system testing.
• Ensure scalable and modular test frameworks across multiple test stations and product lines.
• Deliver automated functional tests, hardware validation tools, and diagnostic utilities for the manufacturing floor.
• Establish APIs and interfaces between test software and hardware systems.
• Own testing process reliability, maintainability, and deployment consistency.
• Champion integration of embedded systems, firmware interfaces, sensors, actuators, motion control, and data acquisition hardware.
• Set direction for hardware bring‑up, debugging, and troubleshooting in manufacturing environments.
• Collaborate with test/validation teams to ensure testability and manufacturability in designs.
• Drive best practices and process improvements within the test organization.
• Maintain test documentation, procedures, and architecture diagrams; implement CI/CD and code reviews.

Skills

Technical leadership

Test automation

Embedded systems

CI/CD

Manufacturing test

Stakeholder mgmt

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer/Electrical Engineering, CS, Robotics

Tools

Git

Python

ROS/ROS2

EtherCAT

CAN

Job description

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.
We operate at the cutting edge of Applied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.

Role Overview

Apptronik is building advanced humanoid robots at scale, and manufacturing test is a critical part of ensuring reliability, quality, and production readiness across all robot subsystems.

We are seeking a Manager, Test Operations to be a hands‑on technical leader to drive development, maintainability, and scalable hardware and software integrated solutions used for manufacturing and validation testing of robotic systems. This role will work closely with test and validation engineers, systems engineers, firmware developers, manufacturing, and operations teams to implement robust and maintainable test infrastructure supporting products from early NPI through production ramp.

This is a highly hands‑on role focused on test automation, systems integration and manufacturing support in a fast‑paced robotics environment.

Responsibilities

Manufacturing Test Development

• Lead the team that deploys manufacturing test software and hardware for:
  • PCBAs
  • Actuators
  • Cable harnesses
  • Electromechanical subassemblies
  • Full robot system testing
• Ensure the team develops scalable and modular test frameworks used across multiple test stations and product lines
• Focus the team on delivering automated functional tests, hardware validation tools, and diagnostic utilities to the manufacturing floor.
• Establish criteria for APIs and interfaces between test software and hardware systems
• Own the testing process reliability, maintainability, and deployment consistency across manufacturing environments
• Champion flawless integration of:
  • Embedded systems
  • Firmware interfaces
  • Sensors and actuators
  • Motion control systems
  • Data acquisition hardware
• Establish technical direction for hardware bring‑up, debug activities, troubleshooting and communication issues in manufacturing environments
• Collaborate with test and validation engineering teams to ensure products are designed with testability and manufacturability in mind
• Drive best practices and process improvements within the test organization
• Ensure test documentation, procedures, and architecture diagrams are maintained
• Implement code reviews and software release processes (CI/CD)

Manufacturing Operations Support

• Deliver processes and key metrics that provide actionable data for:
• Ensuring internal manufacturing operations and contract manufacturers are fully supported for deployment, maintenance, and troubleshooting of manufacturing test stations
• Supporting rapidly changing production ramps and resolving manufacturing test issues to minimize downtime
• Proposing manufacturing test requirements and workflows for future products

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in leading complex electromechanical system test development for automated manufacturing systems
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management; able to represent the team to senior leadership and customers.
• Proven technical leadership — leading engineers and owning delivery of complex, cross‑disciplinary systems.
• Formal people‑management experience — hiring, developing, and directing a team.
• Willingness to travel to manufacturing sites, up to 20%
• Experience leading teams engaged with:
  • Embedded systems
  • Hardware/software integration
  • Serial communication protocols
  • Networked systems
  • Familiarity with modern software development practices:
  • Git
  • Code reviews
  • Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills working with complex electromechanical systems
  • Comfortable working in fast‑paced and evolving environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in robotics, aerospace, automotive, or similar electromechanical systems
• Experience with communication protocols: ROS/ROS2, EtherCAT, CAN, RS485 …etc
• Experience with manufacturing databases, MES systems, or traceability systems
• Experience developing scalable architectures for test infrastructure
• Familiarity with Linux-based development environments
• Experience with automated data analysis and reporting tools
• Experience supporting contract manufacturers or production environments
• Experience using AI‑assisted software development tools and workflows

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of standing and walking
• Periods of sitting at a workstation and working on a computer
• Ability to safely lift and/or move approximately 15 pounds at times.
• Ability to move throughout operational areas and maintain awareness of surrounding people, equipment, and robotic systems.
• Visual ability necessary to operate equipment, monitor robotic systems, and read printed and digital materials.
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members during normal operations and when responding to safety or operational concerns.

*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.

Technology Control Restrictions: As a person in this position will have access to technical data and/or computer software maintained by the Company, which includes export‑controlled technical data and/or computer software, successful applicants must be eligible under U.S. export control regulations to access such information.