Forward Deployed Robotics Engineer
- Level
- Mid
- Work type
- On-site · San Francisco
Not stated in the posting: salary, visa.
Open. First seen 2 October 2026.
About the role
Role Overview
As a Forward Deployed Robotics Engineer, you'll serve as the first line of technical defense for our growing fleet of robotic systems deployed across warehouse and external data-collection environments. Our diverse robot fleet—including both static and mobile systems—performs complex manipulation and sensing tasks in real-world settings. When issues arise, you'll be the first responder: analyzing field tickets, reproducing issues, gathering diagnostic data, and driving resolution to ensure maximum fleet uptime.
Key Responsibilities
- Primary Robot Fleet Issue Technical Triage Point: Manage incoming fleet issue ticket queue, prioritize based on fleet-wide implications and operational goals, and triage as hardware, software, or operational issue.
- Fast-Paced Operations: Handle quick turnaround expectations while maintaining diagnostic quality
- On-Site Diagnostics: Perform physical inspections and functional tests at robot stations to verify issue reproduction
- Data Analysis: Analyze telemetry, sensor data, and logs to form and test hypotheses about root causes
- Failure Analysis: Execute technically sound Failure Analysis / Root Cause Analysis procedures
- Cross-Team Collaboration: Partner with hardware and software teams to reproduce and resolve complex issues
- Pattern Recognition: Identify recurring issues across the fleet and surface reliability insights for design improvements
- Documentation: Maintain clear, traceable documentation for every diagnostic and escalation event
- Metrics & Reporting: Track and report issue trends and fleet health metrics to leadership
- Process Improvement: Collaborate with team lead to develop and maintain diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting guides
Required Competencies & Skills
- Education: B.S. in Robotics, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering, or equivalent experience
- Hardware Knowledge: Proficiency debugging electromechanical systems including actuators, PCBs, cameras, wiring harnesses, and communication hardware
- Software Knowledge: Experience with log parsing and basic scripting for diagnostics (Python or Bash)
- Systems Knowledge: Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, and software interactions in robotic systems
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication, particularly in technical documentation and shift handoffs
- Hands-On Problem Solving Experience: Minimum 2 years work experience with debugging and completing root cause investigations of systems with hardware and software issues
Strongly Preferred:
- Experience supporting multi-robot fleets, warehouse automation systems, or field robotics deployments
Physical Intelligence's standard text
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
What this role asks for
Particular to this role
Bash
Rare in Physical Intelligence's other 23 open postings.
Standard for embedded / hardware roles
Python
Common in embedded / hardware postings at any company.
95% of this description is written for the role. The rest is Physical Intelligence's standard text, folded away below.
Read against Physical Intelligence's other open postings on this site.
The team: Hardware
This role is one of 10 open in Hardware.
WHAT THE TEAM WORKS WITH, ACROSS ITS POSTINGS
PCB Design (6 of 10), Python (5 of 10), Embedded Systems (3 of 10), SolidWorks (3 of 10), FEA (2 of 10), PLC (2 of 10)
OTHER ROLES ON THIS TEAM
- Mechatronics Intern posted Sep 17
- NPI Technical Program Manager posted Aug 7
- Manufacturing Engineer posted Aug 5
- Production Test Engineer posted Aug 3
- Prototype Engineer posted Jul 24
- Robot Integration and Test Technician posted Jul 24
- Robot Integration Engineer posted May 18
- Robotics Technician posted Jul 30
- Mechanical Design Engineer posted Jun 14
From the team and dates on Physical Intelligence's own job board.
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