Systems Architect – Autonomous Mobile Systems

POSITION SUMMARY

The Systems Architect is the technical owner of complete mobile and autonomous product architectures, translating customer and business requirements into integrated, manufacturable, safe, and serviceable equipment. This hands-on engineering leader aligns mechanical, electrical, controls, embedded software, autonomy, manufacturing, and external technology partners to develop and commercialize intelligent material-handling solutions. The position provides system-level direction and engineering trade-off decisions without necessarily serving as the people manager for every contributing discipline.

MAJOR JOB FUNCTIONS (%)

Systems Architecture & Multidisciplinary Integration (35%)

• Own end-to-end product architecture, system requirements, interfaces, performance targets, and design trade-offs across mechanical, electrical, controls, embedded software, and autonomy.
• Translate customer use cases into subsystem requirements, integration plans, and clear technical decisions; resolve gaps and conflicts among engineering disciplines and outside partners.
• Lead hands-on integration, architecture/design reviews, system risk assessments, and verification and validation of complete mobile products.

Product Development & Commercialization (25%)

• Lead technical execution from concept and feasibility through prototypes, pilot deployments, production launch, and field improvement.
• Integrate mobility, power, motion control, sensing, navigation, safety, human-machine interfaces, and diagnostic functionality into reliable products.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Service to achieve manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, cost, and scalable product platforms.

Cross-Functional Technical & Project Leadership (20%)

• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering deliverables, priorities, technical dependencies, schedules, and issue resolution across internal teams and external development partners.
• Facilitate decisive technical reviews, communicate risks and trade-offs to engineering and executive leadership, and maintain accountability for integrated system performance.
• Work with Sales, Customer Applications, Operations, and Service to convert field and customer needs into robust engineering solutions.

Technology, Autonomy & Engineering Capability (20%)

• Guide integration of AGV/AMR and other autonomous mobile technologies, including controls, navigation, perception/sensing, and functional safety appropriate to each application.
• Evaluate technology partners and build internal system knowledge, documentation, interface standards, and repeatable validation methods.
• Identify practical opportunities to improve product architecture, engineering speed, quality, and next-generation capability.

IMMEDIDATE CHALLENGES

• Understand Company products, applications, customers, development processes, and current mobile/autonomous initiatives.
• Assess existing architectures, interfaces, technical risks, and dependencies on external controls/autonomy partners.
• Establish effective working relationships across engineering disciplines, manufacturing, operations, sales, service, and suppliers.
• Lead a priority multidisciplinary integration effort and define a credible path from prototype to validated, commercial product.
• Strengthen system-level decision-making and engineering capacity during rapid organizational growth.

CRITICAL SELECTION CRITERIA

• Direct, substantive experience designing, integrating, validating, or commercializing physical mobile autonomous or robotic equipment (for example AGV/AMR, autonomous industrial vehicles, robotic cleaning equipment, or autonomous off-highway machines).
• Demonstrated system-level ownership across multiple engineering disciplines—not solely mechanical, electrical, controls, or software specialization.
• Ability to define architecture, manage subsystem interfaces, make technical trade-offs, and resolve integration problems in real equipment.
• Hands-on product-development experience from requirements and prototype through testing, production readiness, or field deployment.
• Credible technical leadership across engineers, suppliers, and cross-functional stakeholders, including project coordination and clear communication.

EDUCATION AND ADDITION EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Robotics, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or a related field; equivalent demonstrated engineering accomplishments may be considered. Experience with motion systems, sensors, power systems, embedded controls, navigation, safety-rated functions, requirements management, design verification, and manufacturing transfer is valuable. Specific tools, certifications, years of experience, and travel requirements should be confirmed with Company.