Senior System Integration Engineer (Soft Goods/Gloves/Grip)

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond. We operate at the cutting edge of Applied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better. JOB SUMMARY Apptronik is seeking a Senior System Integration Engineer – Soft Goods / Gloves / Grip to lead the system-level integration, architecture, and validation of soft goods, robotic gloves, grip surfaces, and flexible protective interfaces for our humanoid robot, Apollo. This role is responsible for ensuring that complex, compliant mechanical systems work seamlessly with embedded sensors, electronics, and control software to enable dexterous manipulation, human-robot interaction, and reliable operation in demanding real-world environments. You will act as the technical connective tissue across mechanical, electrical, controls, materials, systems engineering, and manufacturing teams. The ideal candidate combines strong mechatronics and systems engineering fundamentals with hands-on expertise in bringing up, testing, and troubleshooting flexible assemblies, wearable-style technologies, elastomer-based grips, and embedded tactile sensors. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES Sub-System Integration & Architecture: Lead the integration of compliant mechanical systems (soft goods, gloves, covers) with sensing, electrical, and control systems for Apollo. Define the system-level architecture and requirements for flexible/rigid boundaries. Ingress Protection Architecture: Drive the system-level strategy and architecture for environmental sealing. Define and validate the critical sealing interfaces between flexible covers, soft goods, elastomers, and rigid robotic structures to ensure the robot achieves strict Ingress Protection (IP) ratings against water, dust, and industrial contaminants. Interface Management: Define and manage complex interfaces (mechanical, electrical, and data) between flexible textiles/elastomers, embedded tactile sensors, and the rigid robotic skeletal structure. Sensor & Wiring Integration: Drive the functional integration of tactile, pressure, force, and temperature sensors into gloves, grip surfaces, and soft goods. Ensure robust signal integrity, strain relief, routing, and electrical reliability within moving, compliant structures. Prototype Bring-Up & Debugging: Lead the electromechanical bring-up of new glove prototypes. Troubleshoot complex, multi-domain issues (e.g., distinguishing between a mechanical elastomer failure, a sensor wire break, or a software calibration anomaly). Verification & Validation (V&V): Architect and execute V&V test plans for soft goods and grip systems. Characterize sensor feedback, grip performance, friction coefficients, and system reliability under dynamic robotic operation. Advanced Materials Collaboration: Work closely with ME and Materials teams to validate that selected flexible materials (UHMWPE, Kevlar, elastomers, technical textiles) and protective coatings meet system-level environmental, ESD, and durability requirements. Data Analysis & Calibration: Develop test scripts and methodologies to capture, analyze, and calibrate data from flexible sensor arrays, ensuring the controls team receives clean, accurate tactile feedback. Design for Serviceability & Scalability: Develop integration strategies that allow soft goods and sensor assemblies to be efficiently installed, calibrated, repaired, and replaced in the field. Establish modular service interfaces that minimize downtime. Manufacturing & Production Support: Partner closely with Manufacturing, Quality, and external suppliers to ensure that complex integrated assemblies (fabric + elastomer + electronics) are highly repeatable, scalable, and testable on the production line. Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate heavily with Electrical, Controls, Perception, Firmware, and Mechanical teams to ensure seamless functionality. Serve as the primary technical adjudicator for trade-offs involving the robotic hands and protective skins. Reliability & Root Cause Analysis: Investigate field failures and lab anomalies through rigorous root-cause analysis. Develop corrective actions and drive hardware/software improvements to maximize durability and grip performance. Technical Mentorship: Mentor junior engineers, establish best practices for the electromechanical integration of soft/flexible systems, and lead cross-functional tiger teams during critical bring-up phases. SKILLS AND REQ