Senior Roboticist

Omron Automation; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Omron Robotics and Safety Technologies, Inc. (ORT) in Pleasanton, CA is seeking a Senior Roboticist to lead core technology development for next‑gen robotics solutions.

You will work across engineering, product management, and strategy to identify gaps, define reference designs, and transfer technology to product teams for implementation. The role emphasizes advanced robotics expertise, control and motion planning, system identification, and risk-managed development with a focus on safety,

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Engineering.
• Principal subject matter expert regarding robot technologies including kinematics, linear control, nonlinear control, robust control, motion planning, and estimation techniques.
• Proficiency in linear/nonlinear optimization, stochastic optimization, machine learning, and system identification techniques.
• At least three years of hands‑on experience with industrial articulated robot arms, controllers, and sensors.
• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python.

Responsibilities

• Architect and develop core technology connected to customer needs and commercial value.
• Help develop product roadmaps and engage with product teams and customers.
• Create development plans and ensure timely completion of core technologies.
• Author internal technology documents, patents, and external whitepapers.

Skills

Robotics

Control theory

Machine learning

Optimization methods

Kinematics

System identification

Education

Advanced degree in Engineering

Tools

C++

Python

Job description

Omron Robotics and Safety Technologies, Inc. (ORT) is a leading provider of robotics solutions for factory automation. Our mission is to transform manufacturing through robotics. We deliver superior performance and economic value through highly engineered robotic solutions, enabling customers to improve productivity and mitigate labor shortages in their assembly, handling and packaging operations. ORT is a subsidiary of Omron Corporation, a $5 billion global technology company with more than 150 locations and operations in over 40 countries worldwide.

We are seeking to hire an experienced Senior Roboticist to join our team. This role will be based at our global headquarters in Pleasanton, California.

Primary Responsibility:

The Senior Roboticist role will work with engineering, product management and technical strategy teams to identify technology gaps and develop core technology to fill such gaps. The position owns core technology development, from gap identification through to completed core technologies, including documented technology, reference design creation, and transfer to and support of productization.

In this Senior Roboticist role, you will:

• Architect and develop core technology directly connected to customer needs and commercial value. These technologies may include system identification algorithms (aka calibration), control algorithms, motion planning algorithms, and computer vision algorithms for collaborative robots and mobile manipulators.
• Help develop product roadmaps, including engagement with internal productizing teams, existing and prospective technology development partners, and target customers for mobile manipulators and special projects.
• Create core technology development plans and timelines, in collaboration with engineering and product management team and achieve timely completion of core technology solutions.
• Author internal technology documents, patents, external whitepapers, and peer-reviewed publications.

Education/Experience:

• Advanced degree in Engineering.
• Principal subject matter expert regarding robot technologies, including topics such as kinematics, linear control, nonlinear control, robust control, motion planning (e.g. sampling-based, optimization-based), and estimation techniques.
• Proficiency in linear/nonlinear optimization, stochastic optimization, machine learning, and system identification techniques such as parametric/non-parametric methods.
• At least three years of hands‑on experience with industrial articulated robot arms, controllers, and sensors (e.g. camera, trackers, lidar).
• At least three years of experience implementing core technologies and creating reference designs with industrial robots and controllers.
• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python.
• To conform with U.S. export control regulations, applicant should be eligible for any required authorization from the U.S. Government.

What We Need to See:

• At least five years of experience in a product‑oriented R&D role in the robotics and industrial automation domain.
• Demonstrated success in developing, testing, and deploying planning and control subsystems on industrial robotic solutions.
• Familiarity with robot controllers, safety sensors, and functional safety, and notified body assessments of functional safety designs.

Ways to Stand Out:

• Experience with technical leadership and leading research projects to completion in a timely manner.
• Experience with preparing materials for and executing a formal assessment of a safety concept with a notified body.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Omron, we are dedicated to building an inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

The annual salary range for this role is $160,000.00 - $205,000.00 a year. However, base pay offered may vary depending on geographic region, internal equity, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. This position is also eligible for an annual performance‑based bonus program. Candidates will be assessed and provided offers against the minimum qualifications of this role and their individual experience.

Omron is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, we comply with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.