Senior Robotics Engineer

KION Group•Grand Rapids, MI

1d•$113,625 - $151,500•Hybrid

About The Position

KION Group is hiring a Senior Robotics Engineer for its Robotic Systems Development (RSD) team within the Central Technology Organization (CTO). The role develops foundational software for mobile robotic systems serving the Americas region and contributes to upcoming products. The position is based near Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is hybrid: three days in the office and two days optionally working from home. Travel of up to 30% may include domestic and international trips to the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship. The engineer will architect and develop core C++ software for embedded onboard systems, simulation, and deployment; create tools and frameworks for internal teams and robotic platforms; and help guide software architecture, system design, performance, engineering practices, and the technical roadmap. The role collaborates with robotics, cloud, and systems teams and includes mentoring and reviewing junior and mid-level engineers. The work calls for expertise in modern C++, ROS/ROS2, real-time and distributed systems, software architecture, Linux, debugging, profiling, scripting, simulation, and platform management. The listed base pay range is $113,625–$151,500. Final compensation depends on factors including work location, education, experience, knowledge, and skills. The posting also cites career development, competitive compensation and benefits, pay transparency, and global opportunities. KION Group and Dematic state that they provide equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination and harassment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field.
At least 5 years of professional experience in C++ software engineering and robotics.
Deep expertise in modern C++ (C++17/20), STL, memory management, and performance tuning.
Strong background in software architecture and large codebases.
Experience with multithreaded, distributed, or real-time systems.
Track record in mentoring, team leadership, or technical ownership.
Excellent understanding of Linux, debugging, and profiling tools.
Ability to work across C++, scripting (Python/Bash), and integration tasks.
Hands-on experience with ROS/ROS2 or other robotics frameworks.
Authorization to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.
Availability for travel up to 30%, including domestic and international travel.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. or equivalent experience in research or innovation.
Prior work in autonomous systems, robotics, or embedded environments.
Familiarity with middleware such as DDS, ZeroMQ, or gRPC, and with containerization and orchestration tools.
Experience in system integration, hardware/software interfacing, or deployment pipelines.
Experience working in fast-paced research and development environments.
Strong mathematical knowledge, such as optimization and polynomials.

Responsibilities

Develop foundational software for mobile robotic systems for the Americas region within a globally distributed team.
Architect and develop core C++ software systems for embedded onboard software, simulation, and deployment.
Develop robust tools and frameworks for internal teams and robotic platforms.
Set technical direction for code structure, system design, and performance optimization.
Collaborate with robotics, cloud, and systems teams on cross-functional efforts.
Mentor and review the work of junior and mid-level engineers.
Define engineering best practices and contribute to the technical roadmap.
Use simulation, tooling, and platform-management skills to support software scalability and use-case handling through perception and configuration.
Contribute to the strategic direction of robotics software initiatives.