Manager, R&D Build

Boston Dynamics, Inc.; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 101,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Annual bonus structure

Job summary

Boston Dynamics, Inc. in Waltham seeks a Sr. Supervisor, R&D Build to lead the hands-on assembly and troubleshooting of electromechanical systems for robotic platforms. This role involves overseeing a skilled team and ensuring high standards in production processes.

Required qualifications include 5+ years in prototype manufacturing and team leadership experience. A competitive salary range of $101,000 to $135,000 is offered, along with a generous benefits package.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in prototype or low-volume manufacturing, focusing on electromechanical subassemblies.
• 2+ years of supervisory experience in a technical build environment.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and troubleshoot complex systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of R&D technicians in building robotic components.
• Plan and coordinate daily work based on build schedules and priorities.
• Participate in hands-on builds and troubleshooting activities.

Skills

Prototype or low-volume manufacturing experience

Team leadership

Precision assembly skills

Debugging electromechanical systems

Tools

PLM systems (Arena, Agile)

Project Management software (JIRA, Smartsheets)

Job description

Boston Dynamics is seeking a Sr. Supervisor, R&D Build to lead the hands‑on assembly, test, and troubleshooting of critical electromechanical systems for our next-generation robotic platforms. This is a player‑coach role requiring technical depth and team leadership. You will oversee the build of custom actuators, motors, robotic subassemblies, and full-system integrations during the research and prototype phases. This role supports rapid iteration cycles to drive innovation across our humanoid and mobile robot platforms, requiring a candidate who thrives in an R&D environment where precision and speed go hand in hand.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of skilled R&D technicians focused on building custom motors, actuators, motion subsystems, and full-system robotic integration.
• Operational Coordination: Plan and coordinate daily work based on build schedules, development priorities, and program needs.
• Technical Execution: Actively participate in hands‑on builds, reworks, teardowns, and debug activities to troubleshoot complex electromechanical systems.
• Cross‑Functional Partnership: Partner closely with Engineering, Test, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure material readiness, fast root cause resolution, and clean handoffs.
• Process Optimization: Contribute to the development and refinement of build processes, tooling, and fixtures to improve efficiency, repeatability, and craftsmanship.
• Standards & Documentation: Maintain high standards of cleanliness, safety (including ESD compliance), and documentation (build work instructions, torque specs, test results).
• Team Development: Onboard new hires and train technicians in best practices for precision assembly and system‑level integration.

Required Skills

• 5+ years in prototype or low‑volume manufacturing with a focus on electromechanical subassemblies, system integration, or robotics.
• 2+ years of direct team leadership or supervisory experience in a technical build environment.
• Deep familiarity with precision assembly (torque control, press fits, alignment, bonding/potting, motor winding, and cable/harness routing).
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings/schematics and utilize tools like meters, scopes, and test rigs for debugging.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with robotics, aerospace, Large Scale 3D printing, or automotive drivetrains.
• Familiarity with PLM systems (Arena, Agile) and Project Management software (JIRA, Smartsheets).

Core Competencies

• Operational Excellence: Drives rigor in execution and holds the team to the highest standards of safety and hardware readiness.
• Adaptive Leadership: Balances the need for structured processes with the flexibility required in a fast‑paced, ambiguous R&D setting.
• Strategic Problem Solving: Identifies root causes of operational friction and develops scalable solutions to eliminate them.

The pay range for this position is between $101,000 to $135,000 annually. Base pay will depend on multiple individualized factors including, but not limited to internal equity, job related knowledge, skills and experience. This range represents a good faith estimate of compensation at the time of posting.

Boston Dynamics offers a generous Benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off and an annual bonus structure. Additional details regarding these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer for employment.