Sr. Systems Engineer (Sensors - Humanoid Robotics)

Schaeffler•Troy, MI

About The Position

Schaeffler is a dynamic global technology company and its success has been a result of its entrepreneurial spirit and long history of private ownership. As a partner to all of the major automobile manufacturers, as well as key players in the aerospace and industrial sectors, we offer you many development opportunities. We are seeking a Senior Sensor Engineer to lead the development, selection, qualification, and continuous improvement of position, force, and torque sensing solutions for high-performance humanoid robot actuators. This role owns both internal sensor technology development and external supplier engagement, ensuring sensing systems meet the demanding requirements of precision motion control, high reliability, low latency, and compact packaging in multi-degree-of-freedom humanoid platforms.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Physics, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
5+ years of experience in precision sensing technologies, with significant exposure to position, force, and/or torque measurement in mechatronic or robotic systems.
Demonstrated experience developing or qualifying sensors for high-performance motion systems (robotics, aerospace, industrial automation, or medical devices).
Strong understanding of sensor physics and signal conditioning for magnetic, optical, capacitive, and strain-based sensing modalities.
Experience working with external suppliers on custom or semi-custom sensor development, including technical negotiations, design reviews, and production readiness.
Familiarity with actuator architectures (motors, harmonic/strain-wave or planetary gearing, and integrated electronics).
Hands-on experience with sensor characterization, calibration, and environmental testing.
Excellent technical communication skills and the ability to influence cross-functional and supplier teams.
Must be legally authorized to work in the US.

Nice To Haves

Experience with sensing in humanoid or collaborative robots, or other high-DOF systems with tight packaging constraints.
Knowledge of torque and force sensing techniques suitable for series-elastic or quasi-direct-drive actuators.
Familiarity with real-time control interfaces, sensor fusion, and estimation techniques (e.g., observers, Kalman filtering) used in advanced motion control.
Experience with functional safety, reliability analysis (FMEDA, DFMEA), or automotive/aerospace quality standards.
Prior work involving EMI/EMC considerations for sensors collocated with high-power motor drives.

Responsibilities

Drive the technical roadmap for position, force, and torque sensing technologies used in joint actuators (including rotary and linear configurations).
Lead internal development of sensing solutions (magnetic, inductive, capacitive, strain-gauge/thin-film, and hybrid approaches) from concept through validation and production readiness.
Manage external supplier selection, technical evaluation, development partnerships, and performance qualification for commercial and custom sensors.
Define sensor requirements (accuracy, resolution, bandwidth, noise, thermal stability, EMI immunity, size, power, and interface) in close collaboration with actuator, control, and systems engineering teams.
Oversee characterization, calibration methods, and compensation algorithms for position, force, and torque sensors under real actuator operating conditions (temperature, vibration, dynamic loading, and electromagnetic environments).
Evaluate and mitigate sensing-related risks including drift, hysteresis, crosstalk, saturation, and long-term reliability.
Support integration of sensor data into actuator control loops (FOC, impedance/admittance control, torque control, and state estimation).
Conduct technical reviews of supplier designs, processes, and quality systems; drive corrective actions and continuous improvement.
Generate and maintain technical specifications, test plans, validation reports, and design documentation.
Mentor junior engineers and serve as the primary technical authority on sensing for humanoid actuator programs.