Senior Robotic Systems Engineer

Socket.dev; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev seeks a senior system engineer to lead robotics platform development and drive cross-domain integration across mechanical, electrical, and software teams. You will own system-level requirements, architecture, and risk management for complex mechatronic platforms used in semiconductor backend equipment.

The role requires a decade of leadership in robotic system development, deep knowledge of thermal management and motion control, and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechatronics, mechanical, or electrical engineering (MSc, MEng desired).
• Minimum 10 years of system level leadership experience in complex robotic/mechatronic systems, ideally in semiconductor backend equipment.
• Minimum 5 years as a direct engineer in a discipline.
• Proven track record in system engineering, robotic machine concept development, and cross-discipline leadership.
• Deep understanding of thermal systems, motion control, sensor integration, and machine intelligence.
• Experience with requirement engineering, risk management, and certification processes.
• Excellent English communication skills; German and/or French a plus.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Conduct system-level requirement analysis and author technical specifications for robotic platforms and modules.
• Lead evaluation and selection of technical concepts based on function, cost, and risk.
• Ensure architectural consistency and interface compatibility across subsystems.
• Guide development of subsystem concepts and validate feasibility via modeling and simulation.
• Facilitate design reviews and align development with system-level objectives.
• Drive risk assessments and initiate pre-development or technology validation activities.
• Ensure compliance with certification requirements (CE, SEMI, RoHS) and support documentation.
• Support patent applications and protection of IP from system innovations.
• Present solutions and resolve system-level issues with customers and stakeholders.
• May provide system architectures for new concepts and customer ideation.

Skills

System engineering

Robotics leadership

Cross-discipline collaboration

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Requirements engineering

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechatronics/ME/EE

Master's degree preferred

Job description

MAIN OBJECTIVES

• Translate complex customer and market requirements into robust system concepts that balance performance, reliability, usability, and cost of ownership.


• Drive system-level innovation by integrating mechanical, electrical, thermal, and software domains into cohesive machine platforms.


• Moderate cross-functional concept development workshops and guide teams through structured decision-making under uncertainty.


• Evaluate feasibility and risk of new concepts using first-principles physics and empirical modeling.


• Ensure system-level traceability from requirements to implementation and maintain architectural integrity throughout the development lifecycle.


• Act as a technical authority and mentor for interdisciplinary engineering teams during the development of complex mechatronic systems.


• Drive development schedules of module and platform development projects aligned to overall program and project dates to meet committed demonstration and ship dates.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct system-level requirement analysis and author technical specifications and design briefs for robotic platforms, machines, and modules.


• Lead the evaluation and selection of technical concepts in collaboration with domain experts, based on functional, economic, and risk criteria.


• Ensure architectural consistency and interface compatibility across subsystems and modules.


• Guide the development of subsystem concepts and validate their feasibility through analytical modeling and simulation.


• Facilitate design reviews and ensure that development progress aligns with system-level objectives.


• Drive risk assessments and initiate necessary pre-development or technology validation activities.


• Ensure compliance with certification requirements (e.g., CE, SEMI, RoHS) and support the preparation of documentation.


• Support patent applications and the protection of intellectual property arising from system innovations.


• Present technical solutions and resolve system-level issues in collaboration with customers and stakeholders.


• May provide full system \"architecture(s)\" for new concepts and/or customer driven ideations.

3. ESSENTIAL QUALITY EXPECTATIONS

• Strategic and robotic systems-level thinking with the ability to balance technical depth and cross-domain integration.


• Strong analytical skills and the ability to make sound decisions under ambiguity using physical principles and engineering judgment.


• Excellent communication and moderation skills to lead interdisciplinary teams through complex trade-offs.


• Proactive mindset for identifying innovation opportunities and system improvements.


• Commitment to technical excellence, documentation, and knowledge transfer.


• Customer-oriented thinking and ability to represent the company in technical discussions.

AUTHORITY

• Lead modules and system level development for TH team under the Director of Engineering

5. REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mechatronics, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering. (MSc, MEng, etc. desired)


• Minimum of 10 years of experience in the system level leadership of the development of complex robotic, mechatronic systems, ideally in semiconductor backend equipment.


• Minimum of 5 years as a direct engineer in a discipline.


• Proven track record in system engineering, robotic machine concept development, and cross-discipline, electro-mechanical engineering leadership.


• Deep understanding of thermal systems, motion control, sensor integration, and machine intelligence.


• Experience with requirement engineering, risk management, and certification processes.


• Excellent English communication skills: German and/or French is a plus.


• Willingness to travel internationally up to 20%.