(Senior) Automation Engineer

About the Role at RobCo At RobCo, we develop AI-powered robotic systems that make industrial processes more autonomous, efficient, and scalable. Our Autonomous Manufacturing Platform combines modular industrial hardware with physical AI, enabling rapid deployment and continuous optimization in real production environments. With locations in Munich, San Francisco, and Austin, and backed by leading investors such as Lightspeed, Lingotto Innovation, and Sequoia, we are working to redefine industrial automation. To further expand our team, we are looking for you as (Senior) Automation Engineer (m/f/d) to join our Austin-based team. Your role will be central to ensuring successful implementation and ongoing performance of our robotic solutions at customer sites throughout the United States. You will play a critical part in scaling our solutions and providing technical leadership and support. Your Responsibilities - Development and Testing: Take ownership of robotic solution concepts from detailed design through development, testing, deployment, and ongoing support within our Austin facility and at customer locations. - Customer Deployment and Integration: Lead the technical deployment and commissioning of RobCo's robotic automation systems at customer sites, ensuring seamless integration with existing production environments. Lead on-site robotics deployments by coordinating and directing cross-functional team members across engineering, design, assembly, test, operations, and field teams — ensuring clear ownership, accountability, and execution priorities across all deployment activities, and driving alignment so deployments remain on schedule and operational objectives are achieved. - Project Leadership: Plan, coordinate, and document customer projects from initial scoping through to successful commissioning, delivering robust and reliable solutions. Own program management activities including project planning, timeline creation, milestone tracking, dependency management, risk identification, and maintenance of risk mitigation plans/registers. Establish structured deployment plans, daily priorities, and action tracking for all participating team members to ensure efficient execution and rapid issue resolution during deployments. - Operational Scalability: Design, implement, and continuously improve scalable operational processes, mechanisms, and team workflows that increase execution efficiency, standardization, and organizational scalability. Identify operational gaps and proactively build systems, tools, and best practices that enable teams to scale effectively across multiple deployments and projects. - Customer-Centric Approach: Deeply understand and articulate customer needs, translating complex requirements into straightforward, effective automation solutions. - Technical Support and Training: Provide comprehensive on-site support and training, assist in troubleshooting, and ensure customer satisfaction through responsive and effective service. - Documentation: Develop detailed technical documentation, user manuals, and operational guides to support customer understanding and effective use of our systems. - Innovation and Feedback: Collaborate closely with RobCo's hardware and software teams by providing insightful feedback, contributing to the continuous improvement of our technology. We're looking for someone who has: - Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related technical field. - 5+ years of experience deploying large autonomous systems. - Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex projects end-to-end with no oversight, taking full ownership of execution, delivery, and outcomes. - Acts as a highly autonomous leader capable of proactively identifying and resolving obstacles, driving decisions, and escalating only critical business risks when necessary. - Demonstrates strong leadership presence, operational decision-making, and accountability in fast-paced deployment environments while maintaining a high standard of execution and team coordination. - Strong problem-solving skills, proactive attitude, and ability to work collaboratively across internal teams and customers. - Structured, clear communicator with strong documentation skills. - Flexibility and willingness to travel regularly within the United States. - Fluent in English; additional language skills (e.g., German or Spanish) advantageous but not required. Why join RobCo? - Develop modular, software-defined robotics solutions with us that set new standards in automation. - Help us build robots equipped with state-of-the-art AI that perceive their environment, analyze data, and make intelligent decisions in real time. - As part of a very dynamic and fast-growing scale-up, you will take on responsibility from day one, drive your own projects, and see the direct impact of your work. - Flat hierarchies, open communica