[Hiring] Senior Applications Engineer @Standard Bots

Role Description

The Senior Applications Engineer is one of the rarest profiles in industrial automation -- and one of the most important roles at Standard Bots.

• You're not a mechanical engineer. You're not an electrical engineer. You're not a software engineer. You're all three, and you know how to make them talk to each other.
• You can look at a customer's production line, understand what's broken or slow or manual, and figure out how to fix it with a robot.
• From pre to post sale, you're the one working closely with the sales team to make the solution real.
• This is a builder's role. Tinkerers welcome. People who get bored at a desk are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You'll Do

• Solution Design & Proof of Concept
  • Work with the sales team and customers to understand automation goals, production constraints, and integration requirements.
  • Design practical, buildable solutions around Standard Bots' hardware -- and build the proof of concept yourself to validate it works before anyone signs anything.
  • Develop application notes, sample code, and supporting documentation that help customers and internal teams understand how to replicate and scale solutions.
• Field Installation & Integration
  • Travel to customer sites to install, program, wire, and commission robotic cells.
  • Own the integration from mechanical setup through software configuration -- fixtures, I/O, PLC handshakes, safety, test, sign-off.
  • Troubleshoot on-site when things don't go as planned (and sometimes they don't) -- you stay until it works.
• Customer Training & Support
  • Train customer operators and technicians on Standard Bots hardware and software -- both on-site and at our facility.
  • Support customers post-install as they find new applications and push the limits of what the robot can do.
  • Be a trusted technical resource for the accounts you've worked with -- they'll call you when something comes up.
• Trade Shows & Demos
  • Represent Standard Bots at industry events and trade shows -- build the demo, run it live, talk shop with engineers and plant managers on the floor.
  • Help develop and maintain demo systems that show the breadth of what Standard Bots hardware can do.
• Internal Collaboration
  • Feed real-world integration learnings back to our hardware and software engineering teams -- you're on the front lines and your input shapes the product.
  • Assist in-house engineering with testing new features, peripherals, and integrations as we expand the platform.

Qualifications

• A genuine trifecta: you're comfortable with mechanical systems, electrical systems, and software -- not just one of the three.
• 6+ years of hands-on experience with industrial automation fundamentals: PLC programming and ladder logic, pneumatics, DC power systems, robot programming (any platform), and Python scripting.
• Proficiency with CAD -- SolidWorks preferred, but we care more that you can design and think in 3D than which tool you use.
• Customer-facing experience -- you can explain a technical integration to an engineer, a plant manager, and an ops director in the same conversation and land differently with each one.
• A genuine bias for getting things done in the field, not just in theory -- you'd rather build it than write about it.
• Comfort with up to 50% domestic travel; this role is hands-on and on-site by nature.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline -- or equivalent hands-on experience that tells the same story.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience with collaborative robots (UR, Fanuc, KUKA, ABB, or similar).
• Familiarity with machine tending, palletizing, welding, or assembly automation applications.
• Experience with vision systems, force/torque sensing, or custom end-of-arm tooling.
• Background in a manufacturing or production environment -- you've worked on or near a factory floor before.

Compensation and Benefits

• The salary range for this role is $150,000 to $200,000, depending on experience.
• All Full-Time Employees are eligible for Employee Stock Options.
• We offer a package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees.