Principal Robotics Systems Engineer

Gather AI; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Gather AI is looking for a Principal Systems Engineer to take technical leadership in the development and integration of cutting-edge autonomous systems for logistics and material handling. This role involves collaborating with various engineering teams and mentoring junior engineers.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in systems engineering with 10-15 years of experience, particularly with hybrid hardware/software systems. Key responsibilities include driving system design and participating in the performance characterization of robotic and sensing systems.

Qualifications

• 10-15 years of experience in systems engineering with a focus on hybrid hardware/software systems.
• Experience with complex algorithms in robotics.
• Strong communication skills including writing technical documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and integration of autonomous data gathering systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and uphold best practices.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Robotics

C++

Python

Technical Leadership

Education

BS, MS, or PhD in Systems Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Computer Science

Job description

About Us

Are you ready to build the future of supply chain? At Gather AI, we're not just creating software; we're pioneering a new era of warehouse intelligence. We've developed a groundbreaking, vision-powered platform that uses autonomous drones and existing equipment to capture real-time data, completely digitizing workflows that have historically been manual and error-prone. This means facilities operate smarter, safer, and more efficiently, ultimately redefining "on-time, in full" delivery. If you're looking for an opportunity to contribute to truly transformative technology and make a significant impact in a vital industry, Gather AI is the place for you. We're leading the charge in the rapidly evolving robotics industry, and we invite you to join us in reshaping the global supply chain, one intelligent warehouse at a time.

About You

As a Principal Systems Engineer at Gather AI you will be a technical leader, driving the development and integration of cutting‑edge autonomous and passive sensing systems, bridging the gap between product vision, complex system requirements, hardware implementation, and real‑world performance.

What You’ll Do

• Take full technical ownership of the design, architecture, and integration of the autonomous data gathering systems in logistics and material handling environments.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Customers, and cross‑functional engineering teams (e.g., Software, Hardware, Cloud, Test) to negotiate and finalize system boundaries and interfaces.
• Serve as a technical leader, mentoring less experienced engineers and setting the standard for systems engineering best practices.
• Possess specific, in‑depth knowledge of hardware implementation and integration challenges for both active robotic components (e.g., actuators, controllers) and passive sensing modalities (e.g., RGB cameras, depth cameras).
• Drive trade‑off analyses, risk assessment, and mitigation planning for critical system elements.

Requirements

• BS, MS, or PhD in Systems Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 10-15 years of experience in systems engineering, with a significant focus on complex hybrid hardware/software systems.
• Demonstrated technical ownership of major cross‑functional product development initiatives.
• Comfort with complex algorithms in the robotics domain – finding, evaluating, and applying algorithms in mixed language (C++/Python) systems.
• Understanding of considerations regarding mechanical mounts, power and RF, and ingress protection.
• Expertise in the integration and performance characterization of passive sensing systems (e.g., perception, localization, mapping) and/or active robotic systems (e.g., navigation, control).
• Proven track record of defining and verifying system requirements for complex autonomous systems.
• Strong communication skills, particularly in writing documents that identify critical requirements and explain challenging problems clearly.
• Persistence and calm leadership in an agile work environment.