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

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 REQUIREMENTS

• Mechatronics & Sensors: Strong expertise in integrating tactile/force sensors, flexible printed circuits (FPCs), and delicate wiring into compliant materials and moving joints.
• Testing & Debugging: Hands-on proficiency with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, DAQs, multimeters) and mechanical test fixtures (Instron, cycle testers) to debug multi-domain systems.
• Scripting & Data Analysis: Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or C++ for test automation, data analysis, and basic sensor calibration.
• Textiles & Elastomers Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of technical textiles, elastomers (silicone, urethane), and grip surfaces to effectively communicate requirements and constraints to mechanical and materials engineers.
• Systems Engineering Rigor: Experience defining system requirements, managing Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and executing comprehensive system-level V&V.
• Compliance & Protection: Familiarity with validating products against ESD, thermal, water/IP, cut protection, and environmental reliability standards.
• Manufacturing: Proven ability to take highly integrated products from concept through prototype, validation, and mass production.
• Leadership & Communication: Excellent cross-functional communication; able to bridge the gap between ME, EE, and SW teams, make data-driven engineering decisions, and lead complex development programs.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Experience: 6+ years of experience in systems integration, product development, or mechatronics—specifically involving wearables, robotics, soft goods, or flexible electromechanical systems.
• Education: Bachelor’s/Master’s in Systems, Mechatronics, Mechanical, Electrical, or a related engineering field

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
• Hearing and speech to communicate
• Ability to work hands-on with prototypes, manufacturing equipment, materials, and robotic hardware