Director, Robotic Fleet Hardware

Symbotic•Wilmington, MA

3d•$224,000 - $308,000•Hybrid

About The Position

With its A.I.-powered robotic technology platform, Symbotic is changing the way consumer goods move through the supply chain. Intelligent software orchestrates advanced robots in a high-density, end-to-end system – reinventing warehouse automation for increased efficiency, speed and flexibility. We are seeking a Director, Robot Fleet Hardware that will serve as the principal technical leader to develop and drive significant improvements to the hardware deployed in Symbotic’s fleet. This role drives the technical excellence, reliability, and cost competitiveness of bots operating across customer sites, while serving as the primary technical interface with our largest customers. Scope includes leading cross-functional initiatives to dramatically improve bot performance, reduce field incidents, and optimize lifecycle costs. The Bot Hardware organization is at the forefront of designing and developing state-of-the-art mechanical solutions for industrial automation. We focus on the creation of large-scale capital equipment, integrating advanced robotic systems and mechanical structures tailored for robust industrial applications. Our engineers, guided by a seasoned leadership, are deeply involved in the entire lifecycle of product development, from conceptualization to deployment, ensuring that our innovative designs meet practical, real-world needs.

Requirements

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field required
Minimum 15 years leading complex hardware systems in robotics, automotive, or similar industries, with direct ownership of fielded products at scale.
Strong background in hardware systems design, reliability engineering, failure mode analysis, and electromechanical integration, using field data to drive performance improvements.
Proven ability to deliver cost reductions through value engineering, design for manufacturability, and supply chain optimization while maintaining quality.
Demonstrated experience using structured quality tools and root cause methodologies such as 8D, Six Sigma, and 5 Whys to investigate field issues, drive corrective actions, and prevent recurrence in complex hardware systems.
Influential technical leader who operates hands-on, communicates clearly with executives and customers, and balances near-term field issues with long-term product strategy.
Employees must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to drive and/or fly to client and other customer locations.
The employee is responsible for owning a credit card and managing expenses personally to be reimbursed on a bi-weekly basis.

Nice To Haves

MBA or Ph.D preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary technical advisor to key customers on deployed bot hardware performance.
Partner closely with Manufacturing and Purchasing to resolve field issues and drive continuous improvement.
Visit customer sites regularly to assess fleet performance and support field-level solutions.
Work directly with customer engineering teams to translate operational data into hardware improvements.
Own fleet-level performance analysis using field data and operational metrics to identify systemic issues.
Lead bot hardening initiatives to improve reliability and reduce failures in deployed systems.
Drive rapid, high-impact improvements that can be deployed quickly without sacrificing rigor.
Lead cross-functional cost reduction efforts on current bot designs while maintaining performance and reliability.
Drive should-cost analysis, design-for-manufacturability, and supply chain optimization.
Develop business cases for retrofit and lifecycle improvements across the deployed 20,000+ bot fleet.
Lead critical field incident investigations using structured root cause methodologies.
Coordinate cross-functional teams to drive containment, corrective actions, and prevention.
Present clear executive-level updates on incidents, risks, and fleet-wide implications.
Act as the internal authority on current-model bot hardware and field performance.
Ensure field learnings inform next-generation product designs.
Mentor and develop engineers, raising the bar on technical rigor and problem solving.