Principal Robotics Engineer- Atlas Fleet Reliability

Boston Dynamics • Waltham, MA

74d

About The Position

At Boston Dynamics, we are developing the world's most advanced humanoid robots, designed to operate in complex, real-world environments. We're seeking a senior, hands-on engineer to serve as the critical link between our Controls software team and the Prototype Operations team, independently solving our fleet's toughest problems. If you are an expert at diagnosing complex electromechanical systems and passionate about improving robot reliability, we want to hear from you. As the Principal Fleet Performance & Reliability Engineer, you will be the frontline expert keeping our advanced humanoid robots operational. Your work will directly influence the reliability and performance of the entire Atlas fleet. We're looking for a seasoned engineer with a deep, intuitive understanding of robotics and a proven ability to solve challenging, system-level problems.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field with 12+ years of professional experience, a Master's degree with 8+ years of experience, or a PhD with 5+ years of experience.
• A proven ability to work hands-on with complex hardware and collaborate effectively with technician and operations teams in a manufacturing or lab environment.
• Deep familiarity with C++ and Python for on-robot development, debugging, and large-scale data analysis.
• Expert-level knowledge of electric brushless DC motor functionality and motor control firmware.
• A deep understanding of robotics fundamentals and extensive experience working with complex robot data (e.g., sensor data, joint states).

Nice To Haves

• Experience architecting and implementing large-scale data pipelines and working with time-series databases.
• Experience leading the design and development of data visualization dashboards and tools for complex systems.
• Deep expertise in statistical analysis and signal processing.
• Prior experience in a role focused on robotics reliability, diagnostics, or fleet management for a complex hardware product.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary controls engineering point of contact for the Prototype Operations team, providing expert, hands-on support for robot bring-up, diagnostics, and repair.
• Independently own and conduct deep-dive investigations into the most critical and ambiguous fleet-wide issues, spanning the full stack from low-level motor firmware to high-level robot operations.
• Drive the continuous improvement of the automated diagnostic system and other data analysis tools, focusing on increasing the speed and accuracy of troubleshooting for technicians.
• Develop and document best practices for diagnosing and resolving common issues, creating resources and tools that empower the operations team to solve more problems autonomously.
• Synthesize findings from fleet data and repair operations to provide direct, data-driven feedback to the broader hardware and software design teams, influencing future designs.
• Mentor other engineers in best practices for debugging, system analysis, and designing for reliability.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Machinery Manufacturing
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees