Principal Engineer Robotics

Tennant Company; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 114,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with 100% match up to 6%

Medical plan options

Paid vacation time

Company holidays

Disability & life insurance

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Tennant Company is hiring a Principal Robotics Engineer - Machine Integration Lead in Minneapolis. You will lead cross-functional teams to deliver integrated electro-mechanical systems, translating requirements into verifiable specifications and driving V&V across product development.

The role emphasizes system architecture, risk management, and collaboration with partner technologies to meet cost, performance, and quality goals for autonomous robotics solutions.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Robotics, Systems or Computer Engineering from ABET-accredited program.
• 10+ years in machine and systems integration on complex electro-mechanical systems.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and project execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional technical planning with clear milestones and ownership.
• Translate requirements into technical specs linked to V&V activities.
• Drive system integration across mechanical, electrical, software and partner tech.
• Lead design reviews, mitigate risks, and ensure readiness for prototype/production.
• Plan prototyping and de-risking activities with POCs and verification.
• Define interfaces and verification plans with partner technologies.

Skills

Systems integration

Cross-functional leadership

Technical planning

V&V

DFMEA/HARA

8D problem solving

System architecture

Requirements translation

Interface definitions

Risk management

Education

ABET-accredited BS in Mechanical / Electrical / Mechatronics / Robotics / Systems / Computer Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

FMEA Tools

DFMEA tooling

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Location: United States - Minneapolis, MN

Pay: $113,600 - $175,700

With more than $1B in revenue, Tennant Company is a globally recognized leader in the cleaning equipment industry. For the past 150 years, we have been passionate about developing and manufacturing innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers. At Tennant Company, we are committed to stewardship and creating a cleaner, safer and healthier world. With manufacturing, operations and sales, service, and support functions across the globe, your journey at Tennant can take you places you never expected.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Principal Robotics Engineer - Machine Integration Lead to join the TNC Robotics Product Development and R&D organization. This Engineer is responsible for leading technical execution of systems & architecture integration across complex electro-mechanical, software, and partner technologies (such as Brain Corp) into TNC Robotics cleaning solutions.

The Machine Integration Lead Engineer is responsible for delivering integrated systems using technical rigor to translate the product vision into functional, compliant, and cost-effective designs. Success is measured by the robustness in execution of system architectures, integration speed, and the successful application of new technologies to complex problems.

Key Responsibilities

The Machine Integration Lead Engineer is responsible for leading technical team execution against the overall system definition & development plans, and leading in delivery of system integration events across New Product Development (NPD) efforts:

• Technical Planning & Work Breakdown Leadership: Lead cross-functional technical planning by identifying key decisions and linking knowledge-building work. Define system scope in a clear WBS with deliverables, interfaces, and owners. Drive technical team execution against an integrated project plan (milestones, integration events, V&V, dependencies) to deliver on commitments, **escalate** risks, trade-offs, and corrective actions to keep development on track.
• Requirements Translation & Specification: Translate customer, business, and technical requirements into clear technical specifications and linked to verification & validation (V&V) activities.
• System Architecture & Integration: Lead in the delivery and integration of system & sub-system level design efforts, focusing on well-defined interfaces across system boundaries, and delivering integrated designs that meets overall machine cost, performance, and quality requirements.
• Technical Rigor & Design Reviews: Lead cross-functional teams through disciplined design reviews that surface risk mitigation early, drive actionable feedback, and align stakeholders on decisions. Ensure reviews demonstrate requirements compliance, V&V strategy/progress, and readiness for prototype and production builds—including manufacturing, sourcing, and quality plans
• Prototyping & De-risking: Lead in the planning, building, and coordination of Prototype build & integration events that support verification & validation (V&V) of Proofs-of-Concept (POCs) and Requirements, ensuring risks are identified and reduced throughout the product development process.
• Partner Technology Integration: Lead end-to-end integration of partner technologies by defining interface requirements, owning the integration and verification plan, and aligning partners and internal teams on technical expectations and decision timelines.
• Risk Mitigation & Compliance: Evaluate design risks using formalized tools such as DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and HARA (Hazard and Risk Analysis). Ensure design compliance by applying applicable industry standards (e.g., UL, IEC, EMC, ESD, IEC/UL 60335-1, IEC/UL 60335-2-72, IEC 63327, Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC).

Education & KSAs

• Education: Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Robotics, Systems, or Computer Engineering from an ABET accredited institution is required; a Master's degree is strongly preferred.
  Experience: 10+ years of experience in machine & systems integration on complex software driven electro-mechanical systems and leadership of project execution teams. Product design & certification experiences of autonomous mobile robotic (AMR) products to industry standards like IEC/UL 60335-1, IEC/UL 60335-2-72, IEC 63327 strongly desired. Product Development with compliance to Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and CE marked machinery.
  Technical Planning & Execution Leadership: Demonstrated ability to translate program objectives into clear technical work plans, establish deliverables and ownership, integrate cross-functional dependencies, and drive execution against development, integration, and V&V milestones. Skilled in proactively managing technical risks, trade-offs, and corrective actions to maintain program commitments.
  Systems Engineering Technical Mastery: Demonstrated proficiency in applying systems engineering principles, including requirements development and decomposition, system architecture and interfaces, traceability, integration, and verification and validation. Skilled in applying FMEA, HARA, and DVP&R to manage technical risk and ensure system-level requirements are successfully verified.
  Problem Solving & Execution: Proven ability to lead structured problem solving and root cause identification, including demonstrated utilization of 8D Problem Solving methodology.
  Collaboration: Strong capability to build partnerships and work collaboratively on cross-functional teams (Mechanical, Hardware, Systems, Software, Production, Supply Chain, etc.).

Posted salary ranges are made in good faith. Tennant Co. reserves the right to adjust ranges depending on the experience/qualifications of the selected candidate as well as internal and external equity. The salary range reflects both entry into the role and future growth. Total Compensation = Base Salary + Benefits

Benefits = A comprehensive benefits package including multiple medical plan options, 401(k) with a 100% match up to 6%, paid vacation time, 8 paid company holidays and 3 personal holidays dental and vision coverage, wellness rewards, robust family support programs, company‑paid disability and life insurance, and a full Employee Assistance Program.

Defining Our Employee Value Proposition

At Tennant Company, we…

Discoverfulfilling work with opportunities for growth and meaningful recognition.
Drivethe quality and innovation our customers rely on in our products and services.
Connectwith people who care about each other, ourbrandsand our communities.

These are the principles that define how our employees experience Tennant Company, make Tennant a great place to grow your career, and are at the core of our legacy and future.Together, they serve as guideposts for working with our customers, our partners and one another.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Tennant Company is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made on the basis of individual skill, ability, reliability, productivity, and other factors important to performance. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or any other basis protected by state or federal law or local ordinance.