Senior Staff Manufacturing Systems Engineer

Agility’s commercially deployed humanoids operate alongside teams in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers—tackling physically demanding and repetitive tasks while enabling workers to focus on higher-value work. With industry-leading safety standards and years of proven deployment data, we're pioneering a new era of automation that enhances human potential.

About Agility Robotics:

Agility Robotics is revolutionizing the way robots interact with the world. Our flagship humanoid robot, Digit, is the first to be sold for deployment in human environments at scale. We are a team of visionary engineers and scientists passionate about building robots that move, adapt, and work alongside people in real-world settings. Agility is committed to creating breakthrough technologies in mobility, dexterity, and human-robot collaboration that make work safer, more productive, and more fulfilling.

About the Role:

The Senior Staff Manufacturing Systems Engineer is a senior individual contributor and senior technical lead within Operations Engineering. Reporting to the Director of Operations Engineering, this role leads the design and implementation of manufacturing system architecture - ensuring that production, test, and automation systems are built to requirements and designed for scalability, quality, and operational efficiency.

As a leading technical expert in manufacturing systems integration, this role provides cross-functional technical leadership across Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, NPI, Automation, and IT/Software teams, while staying hands-on with the floor issues that block production. This role shapes how complex robotic and mechatronic products are built, tested, and scaled from prototype to high-volume production.

Key Responsibilities:

Manufacturing Systems Architecture & Strategy

• Define and maintain the end-to-end Manufacturing Systems Architecture, spanning factory automation, data flow, MES systems, ERP integration, test infrastructure, and traceability frameworks.
• Partner with the Director of Operations Engineering to establish long-term strategies for smart factory enablement, digital manufacturing, and system interoperability.
• Translate business and operational goals into scalable manufacturing system requirements and roadmaps.
• Project Management: Manages manufacturing schedules, budgets, and risk assessments for leadership.

 

Systems Integration & Design Leadership

• Lead cross-functional integration of mechanical, electrical, software, and automation subsystems into cohesive manufacturing solutions.
• Architect interfaces between production equipment, test systems, MES, PLM, and ERP platforms - including active support of the current ERP migration (Micus to NetSuite), ensuring quality, non-conformance, and traceability data flow correctly into the new system.
• Oversee technical reviews, design validation, and readiness assessments for new manufacturing system deployments.
• System Integration: Connects factory floor equipment with global supply chains and digital platforms.

Operational Readiness & Scalability

• Drive system-level readiness for new product introductions (NPI), ensuring manufacturing systems support ramp readiness and high first-pass yield.
• Work directly with the NPI Manufacturing Engineering team on active build issues - e.g., subsystem (actuator, torso, leg) build bottlenecks, work-instruction and redline backlogs, and DFMEA/traceability gaps - providing systems-level solutions, not just architectural guidance.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, and Test Engineering to optimize workflows, eliminate bottlenecks, and standardize processes.
• Champion manufacturability and maintainability through design-to-build principles and lifecycle systems thinking.

 

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Serve as a senior technical resource and advisor for manufacturing system design and integration decisions.
• Mentor engineers across multiple disciplines, raising the overall technical capability of the organization.
• Influence cross-departmental standards, documentation practices, and system-level verification strategies.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Drive implementation of digital manufacturing tools (e.g., MBSE, digital twins, automated data analytics, and predictive maintenance).
• Evaluate and deploy new technologies to improve throughput, reliability, and data-driven decision-making.
• Establish system health metrics and continuous improvement frameworks for factory performance monitoring.
• Process Improvement: Uses tools like value stream mapping to reduce waste and improve workflow.
• Data Analysis: Uses data mining to track performance and troubleshoot production bottlenecks.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree with 12+ years, Master's degree with 10+ years, or PhD with 8+ years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline, with a focus on manufacturing systems design, integration, and deployment for complex electromechanical or robotic products.
• Proven record of leading cross-functional initiatives across hardware, software, and operations teams.
• Expert-level understanding of manufacturing system architectures (MES, PLM, ERP, SCADA, automation controls, test systems).
• Hands-on experience with ERP/MES platforms in a production environment (NetSuite experience strongly preferred given active migration).
• Strong communication and leadership skills; able to influence technical direction across teams and executive stakeholders.
• Willingness and ability to be on-site regularly to support builds, reviews, and floor issues in real time.

Preferred:

• Experience with robotics, advanced automation, or complex mechatronic assembly lines.
• Background in model-based systems engineering (MBSE), digital twin implementation, or smart factory systems.
• Familiarity with data systems (SQL, APIs, data lakes) and software integration for manufacturing intelligence.
• Demonstrated success scaling systems from prototype to high-volume production.
• Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments.
• Experience with DFMEA/PFMEA processes and quality traceability systems.

 

Success Criteria:

• Delivers a unified, scalable, and data-driven manufacturing systems architecture that supports product and factory growth.
• Enables seamless integration between design, manufacturing, and test systems, reducing cycle times and improving quality.
• Establishes clear system standards and fosters collaboration across all engineering functions.
• Acts as a trusted technical resource, supporting the long-term direction for manufacturing systems capability within the organization, while remaining hands-on for active NPI and production issues.

 

Why Join Agility Robotics?

You'll be at the forefront of redefining how machines and people coexist. Your work will directly influence the next generation of humanoid robots and how they're built - from the drawing board to the warehouse floor. Join a passionate, multidisciplinary team united by a mission to make robots useful, reliable, and human-compatible.

 

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job, as this is subject to change at any time with or without notice. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by anyone authorized to give such instructions or assignments.

Location

• This is a hybrid position based out of our Salem, OR office.

The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to: job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Agility Robotics is a multi-state employer and this salary range may not reflect positions who work in other locations. These ranges may be modified in the future.

Anticipated Base Salary Range$181,000—$236,000 USD

In addition to base pay, our competitive total rewards package consists of the following for full-time employees:

• 401(k) Plan: Includes a 6% company match.
• Equity: Company stock options.
• Insurance Coverage: 100% company-paid medical, dental, vision, and short/long-term disability insurance for employees.
• Benefit Start Date: Eligible for benefits on your first day of employment.
• Well-Being Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Time Off:
  • Exempt Employees: Flexible, unlimited PTO and 12 company holidays, including a winter shutdown.
  • Non-Exempt Employees: 10 vacation days, paid sick leave, and 12 company holidays, including a winter shutdown, annually.
• On-Site Perks: Catered lunches four times a week and a variety of healthy snacks and refreshments at our Salem and Pittsburgh locations.
• Parental Leave: Generous paid parental leave programs.
• Work Environment: A culture that supports flexible work arrangements.
• Growth Opportunities: Professional development and tuition reimbursement programs.
• Relocation Assistance: Provided for eligible roles.
• Annual Discretionary Bonus: Provided for eligible roles.

All of our roles are U.S.-based. Applicants must have current authorization to work in the United States.

Agility Robotics is committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Each individual has the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits unlawful discriminatory practices, including harassment. Therefore, it is the policy of Agility Robotics to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Agility Robotics prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.

Agility Robotics does not accept unsolicited referrals from third-party recruiting agencies.  We prioritize direct applicants and encourage all qualified candidates to apply directly through our careers page.  If you are represented by a third party, your application may not be considered.  To ensure full consideration, please apply directly.