Robot Control Lead

Fruition Group US; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Fruition Group US is seeking a Robot Control Lead to own the control stack for a next-generation robotic automation platform. You will lead the design, development, and deployment of real-time control across hardware and software layers, ensuring safe and reliable interaction with complex environments.

In this hands-on leadership role, you will mentor engineers, collaborate with mechanical, electrical, perception, and AI teams, and drive prototypes through validation into field-ready deployments.

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in robotics and control theory; proven track record deploying control systems for physical robots.
• Experience with impedance control, force control, and compliant manipulation using force/torque sensing.
• Expertise in motion planning, trajectory generation, and motion control.
• Experience designing real-time control systems with timing, latency, safety, and performance considerations.
• Experience with ROS/ROS2 in production robotic systems.
• Hands-on experience with robotics simulation platforms like Isaac Sim, MuJoCo.
• Experience using MATLAB/Simulink for controller development.
• Familiarity integrating control with perception and AI approaches.
• Experience transitioning prototype-grade systems to industrialized deployments.

Responsibilities

• Own architecture and implementation of the robot control stack from low-level to Cartesian/whole-body control.
• Design and implement impedance/force control and compliant manipulation strategies using sensor feedback.
• Develop and tune real-time control loops meeting safety and performance targets.
• Design motion and trajectory generation balancing speed, precision, and safety.
• Build and maintain simulation environments with Isaac Sim or MuJoCo for validation.
• Translate models into robust production-grade real-time software (MATLAB/Simulink).
• Lead transition of control algorithms from prototype to scalable field deployments.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, perception, and software teams to define system requirements.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and best practices across robotics controls.
• Support system commissioning, testing, debugging during robot integration and deployments.

Skills

Robotics & control theory

Impedance control & force control

Robot motion planning

Real-time control systems

ROS/ROS2 in production

Robotics simulation (Isaac Sim/MuJoCo)

MATLAB/Simulink

Education

Advanced degree in Robotics / related field

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Isaac Sim

MuJoCo

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

We are looking for a Robot Control Lead to own the control stack powering a next-generation robotic automation platform. You will lead the design, development, and deployment of the different layers of robot control that enable robots to interact safely, precisely, and reliably with complex real-world environments — from real-time force-aware manipulation to motion planning and integration with perception and AI systems.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role within a growing robotics engineering team. You will be responsible for architecting control systems, writing and reviewing production-quality code, and collaborating closely with mechanical, electrical, and perception engineers to take robotic systems from prototype through validation and into reliable field deployment.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture and implementation of the robot control stack, from low-level joint control through Cartesian and whole-body control.
• Design and implement impedance control, force control, and compliant manipulation strategies using force/torque sensor feedback.
• Develop and tune real-time control loops that meet the timing, safety, reliability, and performance requirements of physical robotic systems.
• Design robot motion and trajectory generation strategies that balance speed, precision, robustness, and operational safety.
• Build and maintain simulation environments using tools such as Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, or similar platforms to develop, validate, and regression-test control algorithms before deployment on hardware.
• Develop controllers and control logic using tools such as MATLAB/Simulink and translate models into robust, production-grade real-time software.
• Lead the transition of control algorithms from prototype-stage development into reliable, maintainable, and scalable systems suitable for real-world deployment.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, perception, and software teams to define system requirements and solve complex cross-disciplinary engineering challenges.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to other engineers, helping establish best practices across robotics controls development.
• Support system commissioning, testing, debugging, and troubleshooting during robot integration and field deployments.

Requirements

• Deep expertise in robotics and control theory, with a proven track record designing and deploying control systems for physical robotic platforms.
• Strong experience in low-level robot control, including impedance control, force control, and compliant manipulation using force/torque sensing.
• Expertise in robot motion planning, trajectory generation, and motion control.
• Experience designing and implementing real-time control systems, including an understanding of timing, latency, safety, and performance constraints.
• Experience with ROS and/or ROS2 in production robotic systems.
• Hands-on experience with robotics simulation platforms such as Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, or similar.
• Experience using controller development environments such as MATLAB/Simulink.
• Familiarity with integrating control systems with real-time perception and modern AI-based robotics approaches.
• Demonstrated experience taking robotic systems from early prototype stages through industrialization and real-world deployment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience developing force-sensitive or contact-rich manipulation systems.
• Experience working in a startup or fast-paced engineering environment where products are developed from concept through deployment.
• Familiarity with functional safety principles and best practices for industrial or autonomous robotic systems.
• Demonstrated technical leadership experience, including mentoring engineers and driving cross-functional engineering initiatives.