Senior Manager, Systems Engineering

ZipRecruiter; Stafford (TX); Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Join an innovative firm at the forefront of humanoid robotics as a Senior Manager of Systems Engineering. In this pivotal role, you will lead a dynamic team to drive the development of advanced robotic systems that integrate seamlessly into human workflows. You will foster a culture of collaboration and ownership while implementing structured processes that adapt to the fast-paced startup environment. Your expertise will shape the future of robotics, ensuring that systems engineering practices are not only rigorous but also agile. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on the evolution of humanoid robotics and work alongside passionate professionals dedicated to advancing technology.

Benefits

401(k) Plan with 6% company match

Company stock options

100% company-paid medical, dental, vision insurance

Flexible, unlimited PTO

Catered lunches twice a week

Generous paid parental leave

Professional development and tuition reimbursement

Relocation Assistance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Healthy snacks and refreshments

Qualifications

• 10+ years in Systems Engineering, preferably in robotics or aerospace.
• 5+ years of team leadership experience with a proven track record.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing Systems Engineering team and implement best practices.
• Define and manage system requirements and ensure cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)

Requirements Decomposition

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Technical Leadership

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field

Master's Degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Cameo

MagicDraw

SysML

DOORS

Jama

Job description

Job Description

Agility Robotics is a pioneer. Our robot, Digit, is the first to be sold into workplaces across the globe. Our team is differentiated by its expertise in imagining, engineering, and delivering robots with advanced mobility, dexterity, intelligence, and efficiency -- robots specifically designed to work alongside people, in spaces built for people. Every day, we break through engineering challenges and invent new solutions and capabilities that will one day make robots commonplace and approachable. This work is our passion and our responsibility: our mission is to make businesses more productive and people's lives more fulfilling.

About Agility Robotics

Agility Robotics is at the forefront of developing humanoid robots designed to operate in real-world environments. Our mission is to build robots that seamlessly integrate into human workflows, solving complex challenges in logistics, manufacturing, and beyond. As we scale, we are looking for a Senior Manager, Systems Engineering to lead and strengthen our Systems Engineering team—ensuring structured, scalable development processes while maintaining the agility and execution speed required in a fast-paced startup environment.

Location:

This position can be based either within commuting distance of our Salem, OR headquarters or remotely in the San Francisco Bay Area. For remote candidates, regular travel to Salem, typically 1, but sometimes 2 weeks per month will be required.

About the Role

As Senior Manager of Systems Engineering, you will lead and grow a high-performing team responsible for end-to-end system architecture, requirements development, and technical execution of Agility's humanoid robotics platform. You will play a key role in shaping how Systems Engineering is applied in a startup environment, leveraging model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and the V-model of systems engineering to drive structured yet adaptable development processes.

You will be expected to work hands-on with cross-functional teams in mechanical, electrical, software, firmware, and test engineering to ensure that clear, well-structured, and testable system requirements and interface control documents (ICDs) are generated and maintained.

This role is ideal for a technical leader who thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments like aerospace, automotive, autonomous vehicles, robotics, or most ideally, humanoid robotics.

About the Work

Systems Engineering Leadership

• Lead and mentor a high-performing Systems Engineering team, fostering a culture of ownership, technical rigor, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Define and implement best practices for Systems Engineering, ensuring a balance between structured processes and the pragmatism needed in a fast-moving startup.
• Drive adoption of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to improve traceability, design validation, and system architecture.
• Champion the V-model of Systems Engineering, adapting it for the rapid iteration cycles of humanoid robotics development.

Requirements & Interface Management

• Own the decomposition and validation of system requirements and derived requirements at multiple levels (system, subsystem, and component).
• Ensure all requirements are clear, actionable, and testable, collaborating closely with Test Engineering to define verification and validation strategies.
• Establish and enforce best practices for requirements traceability, ensuring alignment across engineering disciplines.
• Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs), collaborating closely with mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software teams to define and document system interactions.
• Work with Test Engineering to ensure that requirements translate into effective test cases and that system validation efforts are comprehensive and efficient.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Execution

• Work closely with engineering teams to ensure system requirements are actionable, testable, and well-integrated into design and development.
• Participate directly in design reviews, technical planning, and problem-solving sessions, ensuring system-level performance and reliability.
• Drive risk identification and mitigation strategies to ensure design robustness and manufacturability.
• Lead trade studies and architecture decisions, balancing performance, cost, and scalability.

Scaling & Process Development

• Build and refine Systems Engineering processes and tools that enable scalable product development as Agility grows.
• Establish clear frameworks for design verification and validation, ensuring a structured path from concept to production.
• Develop roadmaps for process automation and tool adoption to enhance efficiency in requirements management and system modeling.

About You

Experience:

• 10+ years in Systems Engineering, preferably in robotics, aerospace, automotive, autonomous vehicles, or other highly integrated hardware/software systems.
• 5+ years of team leadership experience, with a proven track record of mentoring and developing high-performing engineers.
• Experience in fast-paced, high-growth startup environments where adaptability, ownership, and execution speed are critical.

Technical Expertise:

• Strong understanding of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and the V-model of Systems Engineering, with experience applying them in agile and startup environments.
• Expertise in requirements decomposition, validation, and traceability, ensuring all requirements are testable and well-defined.
• Hands-on experience developing and managing Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and cross-functional system architectures.
• Proficiency in systems modeling and requirements management tools, including Cameo, MagicDraw, SysML, DOORS, and Jama.
• Experience working closely with Test Engineering to develop and execute effective verification and validation strategies.

Skills & Mindset:

• Ownership mindset—takes full responsibility for driving systems engineering processes forward.
• Strong collaborator and influencer, able to work effectively across mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, and test teams.
• Pragmatic approach to Systems Engineering—balances rigor with execution speed, recognizing the realities of a startup environment.
• Ability to thrive in ambiguity, proactively identifying and solving problems without waiting for a roadmap.

Why Join Agility Robotics?

• Be a key leader in shaping the future of humanoid robotics.
• Work in a fast-moving, highly collaborative environment where your contributions will have an immediate impact.
• Lead highly technical, cutting-edge development at the intersection of hardware, software, and AI.
• Competitive salary, equity, and benefits package.

If you're passionate about leading Systems Engineering in a high-growth startup environment and want to play a pivotal role in advancing humanoid robotics, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits

• 401(k) Plan: Includes a 6% company match.
• Equity: Company stock options.
• Insurance Coverage: 100% company-paid medical, dental, vision, and short/long-term disability insurance for employees.
• Benefit Start Date: Eligible for benefits on your first day of employment.
• Well-Being Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Time Off:
  • Exempt Employees: Flexible, unlimited PTO and 10 company holidays, including a winter shutdown.
  • Non-Exempt Employees: 10 vacation days, paid sick leave, and 10 company holidays, including a winter shutdown, annually.
• On-Site Perks: Catered lunches twice a week and a variety of healthy snacks and refreshments at our Salem and Pittsburgh locations.
• Parental Leave: Generous paid parental leave programs.
• Work Environment: A culture that supports flexible work arrangements.
• Growth Opportunities: Professional development and tuition reimbursement programs.
• Relocation Assistance: Provided for eligible roles.

Agility Robotics is committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Each individual has the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits unlawful discriminatory practices, including harassment. Therefore, it is the policy of Agility Robotics to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Agility Robotics prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.

Apply Now: https://grnh.se/b444bbd04us