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RISE® Robotics

Vice President of Engineering, Hardware & Embedded Software

RISE® Robotics, Somerville, Massachusetts, us, 02145

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Location:

Somerville, MA (on‑site) Reports to:

CEO Department:

Mechanical Engineering, Embedded Systems, Test Engineering Employment Type:

Full‑time

Role & Responsibilities As VP of Engineering, you will lead the engineering organization and ensure the seamless integration of hardware and embedded software into a unified robotics product. Your responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):

Technical Leadership & Vision

Define and own the engineering vision and strategy for hardware and embedded software, aligning with Rise’s product roadmap, market goals, and business strategy

Shape system architecture for robotics platforms: mechanical, electrical, firmware, embedded software, sensors, controls, communication, and networking

Drive technical innovation and ensure engineering design excellence, robustness, reliability and manufacturability in hardware and embedded systems

Maintain awareness of emerging technologies in robotics, sensors, AI, embedded systems, and advise on how to incorporate them into future products

Organization & Team Management

Build, mentor and lead a high‑performing engineering organization: hardware engineering (mechanical & electrical), firmware & embedded software engineering, system integration, test & validation

Define and implement recruiting, onboarding, performance management, professional development, and retention strategies for engineering talent

Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, learning and innovation

Establish appropriate organizational structure, processes, and communication mechanisms to support rapid development, scaling, and cross‑discipline coordination

Product Development & Execution

Oversee end‑to‑end product development lifecycle from concept through design, prototyping, testing, validation, manufacturing, and launch

Establish accountability goals to measure engineering productivity, product quality, reliability, time to market, and post‑launch field performance

Ensure rigorous hardware and embedded software verification, validation, and compliance with relevant standards (e.g., safety, EMC, reliability, field durability)

Manage budgets, timelines, and resource allocation across hardware and embedded software engineering initiatives

Manufacturing Readiness & Scale

Drive design for manufacturability (DFM), design for test (DFT), reliability engineering, thermal/ mechanical/EMI/ESD compliance, and supplier/contract manufacturer engagement

Collaborate with operations and supply chain to move prototypes into pilot production and high‑volume manufacturing while maintaining engineering integrity, field reliability and cost targets

Establish post‑launch support, field feedback loops, & continuous improvement processes

Cross‑Functional & Strategic Collaboration

Serve as a senior technical voice in the leadership team, contributing to business strategy, investment planning, go‑to‑market readiness, and customer growth

Work with the CEO to ensure engineering decisions support overall company objectives and customer needs

Represent engineering externally: with customers, partners, suppliers, industry events, key technical discussions, and possibly investors

Requirements

10 years of progressive engineering leadership experience in hardware and embedded software development, preferably in robotics, industrial automation, autonomous systems or related high‑complexity domain

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics or related field. Advanced degree is a plus

Proven track record of leading cross‑disciplinary teams (mechanical, electrical, firmware, embedded software, systems integration) and delivering complete product platforms to market (ideally both hardware embedded software)

Deep technical expertise in embedded systems (firmware, RTOS, drivers, middleware), electronics/PCB design, sensor integration, robotics controls, system architecture, and manufacturing readiness

Demonstrated experience collaborating across functions (product, manufacturing, operations, quality, supply chain) and influencing up to C‑level

Strong business acumen: ability to align engineering roadmap with business goals, manage budgets, resource planning, timeline trade‑offs and risk management

Excellent communication and leadership skills, capable of inspiring and mentoring engineering teams, setting vision and holding teams accountable for results

Comfortable working on‑site in Somerville, MA, and capable of being hands‑on when necessary (not purely executive)

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