Senior Manager, Hardware Connectivity

Apptronik; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Apptronik, a human-centered robotics company, is building Apollo’s nervous system to enable robust data flow from high-bandwidth sensors to control systems and cloud telematics. You will lead hardware connectivity efforts to ensure reliable signaling across joints and enclosures, driving successful implementations in a rapidly evolving robotics platform.

The role demands seasoned leadership, deep hardware expertise, and a hands-on approach to schematics and layout reviews, while collaborating

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of professional engineering experience in hardware design.
• 4+ years of direct people management experience.
• Deep technical background in at least two areas: RF, wiring/harness, EMI/EMC, or high‑speed signaling.
• Ability to balance thermal, mechanical, and electrical constraints in hardware.
• Hands-on leadership with ability to review schematics and layouts.

Responsibilities

• Lead team of electrical, RF, and interconnect engineers.
• Oversee internal network architecture across the robot body.
• Guide wireless data links including Wi-Fi, Cellular, BT.
• Own wire harnessing and flex-PCBs across joints.
• Define grounding, shielding, and EMI plans.
• Collaborate with Mechanical and Software teams for integration.

Skills

Team Leadership

Hardware Design

Signal Integrity

RF/Wireless

EMI/EMC

System Architecture

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or related field

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.

The Role

We are seeking a Senior Manager of Hardware Connectivity to lead the team that designs and implements the "nervous system" of Apollo. In a humanoid robot, data is just as critical as power. Your team will be responsible for ensuring that every piece of data—from high-bandwidth sensor data to low-latency joint control, to cloud telematics is transmitted flawlessly across the system and to the outside world. You will manage a team of engineers specializing in high/low-speed signal integrity, internal networks, wire harnessing, wireless data links (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular), and EMI/EMC. You will ensure that Apollo's internal networks are robust against the mechanical realities of articulating joints and the electrical noise of high-power motor drives.

• Team Leadership & Growth: Manage, mentor, and grow a team of electrical, RF, and interconnect engineers. Empower Tech Leads, conduct design reviews, and allocate resources effectively across rapid hardware development cycles.
• Internal Network Architecture: Oversee the physical layer design and routing rules for all internal communication buses distributed throughout the robot's body.
• External Wireless & RF: Lead the integration and antenna design strategies for wireless data links, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Cellular (5G/LTE), enabling robust telemetry, OTA updates, and teleoperation.
• Interconnects & Harnessing: Own the physical design, shielding, and dynamic routing of wire harnesses and custom flex-PCBs across Apollo's articulating joints, minimizing wear and ensuring maximum lifecycle reliability.
• EMI/EMC & Signal Integrity: Define the grounding architectures, shielding strategies, and spectrum management plans required to isolate sensitive data and RF signals from the massive electromagnetic noise generated by the robot's high-power mechatronics.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with other Electrical Engineering teams, as well as Mechanical Engineering and Software, to ensure seamless system integration and packaging.

Requirements

• Education: BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 10+ years of professional engineering experience in hardware design, with at least 4+ years of direct people management experience.
• Domain Expertise: Deep technical background in at least two of the following areas:
  • RF engineering and wireless module integration (Cellular, Wi-Fi, BT).
  • Complex wire harness design and flex-PCBs for dynamic, moving systems.
  • EMI/EMC mitigation, grounding architectures, and compliance testing (FCC/CE).
  • High-speed and low-speed digital signal integrity.
• System-Level Thinking: Proven ability to manage the competing physical constraints (thermal, mechanical packaging, electrical noise) found in tightly integrated hardware.
• Leadership Style: A hands-on leader who can dive into schematics or layout reviews when necessary, but knows how to delegate and elevate senior technical contributors.

Bonus Qualifications

• Prior experience in humanoid robotics, complex industrial automation, electric vehicles (EV), or aerospace.
• Experience taking a complex, mixed-signal hardware product from prototype through high-volume manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience in an anechoic chamber or taking products through formal EMC certification.
• 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.