Senior Systems Engineer

Agility Robotics; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 221,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Equity

Insurance

Flexible PTO

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Agility Robotics is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to lead system-level architecture and integration for our humanoid robot platform. You will own requirements, interfaces, and cross-functional integration, applying structured methods to ship fast in a startup environment.

The role emphasizes trade studies, safety analysis, and collaboration with Hardware, Software, and Test teams to deliver reliable, scalable systems for real-world deployment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Systems Engineering for robotics, aerospace, or similar multidisciplinary hardware/software systems.
• Proven track record leading system-level integration and architecture efforts.
• Experience in fast-paced environments requiring self-direction and bias for action.
• Experience integrating new software capabilities into autonomous systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and document system and subsystem architectures spanning mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software domains.
• Drive trade studies focusing on simplicity, performance, cost and execution speed.
• Own software subsystem requirements through full lifecycle with rigorous traceability.
• Ensure designs meet industry standards and regulatory requirements; drive safety analyses and certification activities.
• Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and resolve integration issues early.
• Identify inefficiencies via field data analysis and deploy design improvements for reliability and maintainability.
• Participate in design reviews, integration efforts, and root-cause analysis; lead risk assessments.

Skills

Systems thinking

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Self-direction

Ambiguity handling

Tools

V-model

Requirements management

Interface control

Hazard analysis

Safety lifecycle

Modeling tools

Job description

Agility's commercially deployed humanoids operate alongside teams in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers—tackling physically demanding and repetitive tasks while enabling workers to focus on higher-value work. With industry-leading safety standards and years of proven deployment data, we're pioneering a new era of automation that enhances human potential.

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 Systems Engineer to 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 is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Travel to our Salem headquarters, occasionally 1 week per month, will be required.

About the Role

As a Senior Systems Engineer for Software at Agility Robotics, you'll drive system-level architecture and integration for our humanoid robot platform. Working within a high-impact Systems Engineering team, you'll take ownership of requirements, interfaces, and cross-functional integration—bringing clarity and structure to complex systems while maintaining speed of execution. This role is ideal for a hands-on technical contributor who thrives in ambiguity, demonstrates systems thinking, and has a passion for building real systems fast. You'll apply structured engineering methods while maintaining the agility and pragmatism needed to ship products.

System Architecture & Integration

Define and document system and subsystem architectures spanning mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software domains. Drive trade studies with focus on simplicity, performance, cost, and execution speed.

Requirements Engineering

Own software subsystem-level requirements through their full lifecycle—writing, decomposing, validating, and tracking execution. Maintain rigorous traceability while enabling development velocity.

Compliance & Functional Safety

Ensure system designs meet industry standards and regulatory requirements. Facilitate functional safety analysis including hazard analysis, risk assessment, and safety case development. Drive compliance activities for certification, software development, and software deployment.

Interface Management

Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs). Anticipate and resolve integration issues early through proactive systems thinking.

Operational Excellence

Identify and eliminate operational inefficiencies through systematic analysis of field performance data, customer workflows, and deployment scenarios. Implement design improvements that directly enhance system reliability, maintainability, and performance.

Technical Execution

Participate in design reviews, integration efforts, and root cause analysis. Identify risks, lead trade studies, and influence decisions from a systems perspective.

Field-Focused Problem Solving

Proactively analyze customer deployment scenarios, field feedback, and operational data to identify and solve system-level issues before they impact production or customers.

Required Qualifications

Experience 5+ years of Systems Engineering experience in robotics, aerospace, automotive, or similar multidisciplinary hardware/software systems. Proven track record leading system-level integration and architecture efforts. Experience in fast-paced environments requiring self-direction and bias for action. Experience integrating new software capabilities into autonomous systems.

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency with V-model systems engineering approaches, adapted for rapid development.
• Expert-level requirements authoring, traceability management, and interface definition.
• Proven ability to logically decompose functional requirements for software.
• Compliance and standards expertise: Knowledge of relevant industry standards (ISO 13849, IEC 61508, ANSI/RIA R15.06, or similar) and regulatory frameworks for robotics systems in manufacturing/warehousing environments.
• Functional safety experience: Demonstrated ability to conduct hazard analysis, risk assessment, and safety case development. Experience with safety lifecycle processes and safety-critical system design.
• Experience collaborating with Test Engineering on system-level validation strategies.
• Proficiency with systems engineering tools (requirements management, modeling, etc.).
• Operational efficiency analysis: Proven track record of identifying inefficiencies in complex systems and implementing measurable improvements to performance, reliability, and maintainability.

Systems Thinking Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to think systematically: Must provide specific examples of how you've identified cross-functional dependencies, anticipated downstream impacts, or solved problems by understanding system-level interactions.
• Proactive problem-solving track record: Evidence of looking ahead to solve problems before they occur—examples might include analyzing field data to prevent failures, designing for customer deployment scenarios, or identifying integration risks early in development.
• Customer-focused systems perspective: Experience translating field feedback, customer requirements, or operational constraints into actionable system design changes.

Hybrid Position

This a hybrid position based out of one of our Fremont, CA office.

The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to: job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Agility Robotics is a multi-state employer and this salary range may not reflect positions who work in other locations. These ranges may be modified in the future.

Anticipated Base Salary Range

$170,000—$221,000 USD

In addition to base pay, our competitive total rewards package consists of the following for full-time employees:

• 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 12 company holidays, including a winter shutdown.
• Non-Exempt Employees:
• 10 vacation days, paid sick leave, and 12 company holidays, including a winter shutdown, annually.
• On-Site Perks:
• Catered lunches four times 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.
• Annual Discretionary Bonus:
• Provided for eligible roles.

All of our roles are U.S.-based. Applicants must have current authorization to work in the United States.

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, sex, 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.

Agility Robotics does not accept unsolicited referrals from third-party recruiting agencies. We prioritize direct applicants and encourage all qualified candidates to apply directly through our careers page. If you are represented by a third party, your application may not be considered. To ensure full consideration, please apply directly.