Robotics Engineering Manager

LOGISTICS INSIGHT CORP.; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. seeks a Robotics Engineering Manager to lead the engineering organization delivering advanced automation across operations and customer facilities.

You will guide multidisciplinary teams through concept to production, setting roadmaps and ensuring safety, on-time delivery, and budget adherence. The role requires 7+ years in robotics and 3+ years in people leadership, with strong customer-facing communication and strategic planning skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related technical field.
• 7+ years in robotics/automation with complex projects.
• 3+ years leading engineers/teams and managing budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead, build, and scale a multidisciplinary engineering team responsible for concept development, design, integration, commissioning, and launch of warehouse robotics and industrial automation systems.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain high-performing engineers; establish objectives, accountability, and career development plans.
• Own engineering project portfolio from requirements through handoff; manage priorities, resources, timing, and escalations.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Customer-facing communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical/electrical/manufacturing/industrial/mechatronics/robotics/automation engineering

Tools

PLC controls

Safety standards (ISO/ANSI) knowledge

Job description

Are you looking to join a dynamic team that provides its people with the tools to be successfull and opportunities to grow? Universal Logistics is a leading provider of customized transportation and logistics solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of services including transportation, value-added, intermodal, and specialized services utilized throughout entire supply chains. Universal has immediate career opportunities in your area. Apply today to become part of the Universal team! Position Description: The Robotics Engineering Manager will lead the engineering organization responsible for developing and delivering advanced automation systems across Universal Logistics operations and customer facilities. The portfolio includes industrial and collaborative robotic systems, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), AGVs and autonomous forklifts, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), robotic material handling, machine vision, conveyance, controls, and related automation technologies. This role combines people leadership, technical direction, customer interface, project portfolio ownership, and financial accountability. The manager will build and scale a high-performing engineering team, develop customer solutions, manage budgets and resources, establish engineering standards, and ensure programs are delivered safely, on time, on budget, and to defined performance requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, build, and scale a multidisciplinary engineering team responsible for concept development, design, integration, commissioning, and launch of warehouse robotics and industrial automation systems.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain high-performing engineers; establish clear objectives, technical expectations, accountability, career development plans, and a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a senior technical and customer interface; develop automation roadmaps, translate operational needs into executable concepts, and align scope, performance requirements, business cases, schedule, risks, and implementation strategy.
• Own the engineering project portfolio from requirements and RFQs/SOWs through supplier selection, design reviews, FAT/SAT, installation, commissioning, production ramp-up, and operational handoff; manage priorities, resources, timing, and escalations.
• Own engineering and project budgets, capital estimates, forecasts, change control, and technical deliverables; drive cost, schedule, return-on-investment, and overall program performance in partnership with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Provide technical governance across industrial robotics, collaborative robotics, AMR/AGV systems, autonomous forklifts, ASRS, vision, controls, safety, material flow, and IT/OT integration; lead critical design, risk, and readiness reviews.
• Plan engineering capacity and assign resources across multiple customer programs based on business priority, technical complexity, project risk, and launch timing; balance near‑term execution with capability growth.
• Manage system integrators, automation suppliers, and technology partners; establish technical requirements and acceptance criteria, evaluate proposals, resolve commercial and technical escalations, and hold partners accountable for results.
• Lead critical launch support and complex problem solving; ensure systems achieve defined safety, quality, throughput, reliability, maintainability, and operational-readiness targets before formal handoff.
• Establish engineering standards, preferred architectures, design practices, SOW templates, acceptance methods, documentation, and lessons learned; benchmark emerging technologies and scale successful solutions across Universal’s customer portfolio.

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, industrial, mechatronics, robotics, automation engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience in robotics, automation, manufacturing engineering, controls, material handling, warehouse automation, or systems integration, including delivery of complex automation projects from concept through production launch.
• 3+ years of experience leading engineers, technical teams, or cross‑functional automation programs, with demonstrated ability to develop talent, set priorities, and drive accountability for results.
• Demonstrated experience managing customer requirements, project scope, schedules, budgets, capital estimates, suppliers, technical deliverables, and executive‑level program communications.
• Strong customer‑facing communication, leadership, and presentation skills, with the ability and willingness to travel to support project development, design reviews, commissioning, and critical production launches.

Preferred Requirements:

• Broad experience across industrial and collaborative robotics, AMR/AGV systems, autonomous forklifts, ASRS, machine vision, EOAT, PLC controls, safety systems, conveyance, and industrial networking.
• Direct people‑management experience including recruiting, organizational design, performance management, coaching, succession planning, and scaling engineering capability across multiple programs.
• Experience developing automation strategies, equipment specifications, RFQs/SOWs, business cases, capital budgets, supplier quotations, project forecasts, and return‑on‑investment models.
• Working knowledge of machinery, industrial robot, mobile robot, and functional safety standards, including risk assessments and applicable ANSI/RIA, ISO, and material‑handling safety requirements.

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULH) is a holding company that owns subsidiaries engaged in providing a variety of customized transportation and logistics solutions throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Our operating subsidiaries provide customers with supply chain solutions that can be scaled to meet their changing demands and volumes. Universal’s consolidated subsidiaries offer customers a broad array of services across the entire supply chain, including Contract Logistics, Dedicated Transportation, Intermodal, and Trucking.