Full-Time
Senior Systems Engineer
Product Safety
Posted on 8/21/2025
Apptronik
201-500 employees
Develops human-centered robotic systems and components
No salary listed
Austin, TX, USA
In Person
 AI & Machine Learning (1) |
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- Industry expertise in Systems Engineering, hazard and risk assessment (HARA), Design failure mode and effect analysis (DFMEA), and safety strategy development and implementation
- Prior experience in taking products to commercialization in adherence to safety standards
- Demonstrated experience in functional safety design and certification (IEC61508, ISO 13849, UL3100, UL3300)
- Demonstrated experience for standards compliance design and certification (IEC 60204, IEC 62368, IEC 60068-2, etc.)
- Experience with compliance and functional safety tools & processes.
- Leadership experience in change management to execute the safety roadmap.
- Expertise is requirements management tools (such as JAMA) and framework to document, review, and approve safety requirements.
- Lead safety risk assessments with internal stakeholders, build an executable product safety roadmap, summarize compliance reports & impact analysis.
- Be the leader within Apptronik on product and functional safety and develop the safety plan for safety critical functions according to IEC61508.
- Develop and document product safety requirements and technical safety concept.
- Lead the system level failure analysis and guide component level analysis for Apptronik’s robot product portfolio.
- Partner with product management, design engineering, service, and maintenance to drive the safety design, compliance with technical standards and regulatory frameworks.
- Partner with product validation to ensure clear documentation of verification results of safety functions and requirements.
- Master’s degree preferred
Apptronik builds and sells human-centered robotic systems, components, and engineering services. Its products range from robotic components for hobbyists to advanced robotic systems for researchers and industries, driven by mechatronics and control software used to power legged robots like Valkyrie and Hume. These robots are designed to operate in real human environments, enabling safer, more productive interactions by being lighter, safer, and more efficient. What sets Apptronik apart is its practical, user-friendly focus on integrating robots into everyday work and life, not just advancing technology, and its end-to-end approach that combines hardware, software, and engineering services across a broad customer base. The company’s goal is to develop robots that can live and work alongside humans, improving safety, productivity, and quality of life.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series A
Total Funding
$949.8M
Headquarters
Austin, Texas
Founded
2015
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Mercedes-Benz factory deployments validate Apollo for material handling tasks.
- $935M Series A at $5.3B valuation funds 2026 next-gen robot production.
- Hires from Waymo and Boston Dynamics accelerate scaling infrastructure.
What critics are saying
- Tesla's $20B 2026 robotics spend undercuts Apollo's cost in logistics by 2027.
- Figure AI captures enterprises with superior reasoning before pilots scale.
- Google DeepMind deprioritizes partnership, commoditizing Apollo hardware by 2028.
What makes Apptronik unique
- Apollo humanoid navigates human-designed spaces with bipedal-wheel hybrid mobility.
- Strategic Google DeepMind partnership integrates Gemini Robotics for embodied AI.
- Spinout from UT Austin's lab with NASA Valkyrie heritage drives human-centered design.
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Benefits
Flexible Work Hours
Unlimited Paid Time Off
401(k) Retirement Plan
Company Equity
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -3%1 year growth
↓ -3%2 year growth
↓ -2%Earlier, Google announced the transfer of its robotics software project "Intrinsic" to the core of the company. Google is redrawing its strategy. Google became a major force in the smartphone world by developing the Android operating system and forming partnerships with phone manufacturers who needed an alternative to compete with Apple's iPhone. Today, it appears that the search giant is following a similar plan to enter the field of robotics. Earlier, Google announced the transfer of its robotics software project "Intrinsic" to the core of the company. Just as Android works on phones and tablets from companies like Samsung, Motorola, Xiaomi, and others, Intrinsic aims to play a similar role in robotics systems, although its partner companies are less well-known, such as FANUC, Universal Robots, and KUKA, which primarily focus on industrial robots. Among potential competitors are Amazon and Tesla. McKinsey & Company expects the market size for multi-purpose robots to reach $370 billion by 2040, opening a significant opportunity for Google as artificial intelligence transitions from the digital world, such as chatbots, image generation, and agents, to the physical world. The Intrinsic website indicates that it is developing an operating system that allows manufacturers to "focus on solving the problem rather than being preoccupied with technical details." As with Android, developers can leverage ready-made capabilities to develop applications more efficiently. In a previous interview, Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic, stated that the goal is to make the technology "accessible to everyone," regardless of the type of hardware or AI model used. With Intrinsic joining Google, it will become closer to Google's AI models, infrastructure, and cloud computing tools, while continuing as an independent entity within Google under its current leadership. Complex History Google has a complex history in robotics. In 2013, parent company Alphabet acquired Boston Dynamics, known for its mobile robots, and Japanese company Schaft, specializing in humanoid robots, before selling Boston Dynamics and Schaft in 2017 to SoftBank. However, the recent surge in AI has changed the landscape. In mid-2025, Google unveiled two new models: Gemini Robotics and Gemini Robotics-ER, enabling generative AI to be integrated into robot control commands. It also announced a partnership with Apptronik to develop a new generation of humanoid robots. Finally, Google collaborated with Boston Dynamics to integrate Gemini into the Atlas robot tailored for manufacturing environments. Intrinsic is currently working with Foxconn to deploy AI-powered robots in its U.S. factories for assembling electronics.
Apptronik raises Series A funding to nearly $1 billion to advance humanoid robotics. Apptronik has secured an additional $520 million in Series A-X financing, lifting its total Series A funding to more than $935 million and bringing overall capital raised to almost $1 billion. The round included continued backing from investors such as B Capital, Google, Mercedes-Benz and PEAK6, along with new participation from AT&T Ventures, John Deere and the Qatar Investment Authority. The fresh investment will support scaled production of the company's humanoid robot, Apollo, and broaden commercial deployments worldwide. Funding will also accelerate research, expand robot training and data-collection facilities, and support development of a next-generation platform targeted for release in 2026. Apptronik has established collaborations with major global brands including Mercedes-Benz, GXO Logistics and Jabil, as well as a strategic alliance with Google DeepMind to develop advanced humanoid systems powered by Gemini Robotics. Designed for manufacturing and logistics environments, Apollo performs physically demanding tasks such as transporting materials, sorting and kitting, with future applications planned for retail, healthcare and home settings. Apptronik is a US-based robotics company focused on developing advanced humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence. Originating from the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, the company builds robots designed to work alongside people in industrial and commercial environments. Its flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, represents years of engineering and development aimed at creating practical, human-centric robotic systems. Apollo is designed to handle physically demanding and repetitive tasks, particularly in manufacturing and logistics operations. The robot can assist with material handling, sorting, kitting, and other labor-intensive processes, helping businesses improve productivity while enhancing workplace safety. Apptronik's design philosophy emphasizes adaptability, safety, and seamless collaboration between humans and machines. The company has formed partnerships with major global enterprises across automotive, logistics, and technology sectors to accelerate deployment of its humanoid systems. It is also investing heavily in research, data collection, and next-generation AI capabilities to expand applications into retail, healthcare, and eventually home environments. With significant investor backing and a strong focus on embodied AI, Apptronik is positioning itself as a key innovator in the emerging humanoid robotics industry.
Repeat investors including B Capital, Google, Mercedes-Benz and PEAK6, alongside new investors including AT&T Ventures, John Deere and QIA, back Apptronik to scale production and deployment of Apollo™ humanoid robots
Humanoid robot provider Apptronik adds $520 million in funding in extended Series A round. With this fresh capital, Apptronik will ramp up production of its Apollo robot, and expand its global network of commercial and pilot deployments. By MMH Staff February 12, 2026 AI-powered robotics company Apptronik has announced a $520 million Series A-X funding round, with participation from existing investors including B Capital, Google, Mercedes-Benz and PEAK6, and new investors including AT&T Ventures, John Deere and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). The Series A-X extension round follows a $415 million oversubscribed initial Series A raise in 2025, bringing Apptronik's total Series A to more than $935 million and total capital raised to nearly $1 billion. After the initial Series A announcement, Apptronik said it continued to receive substantial inbound investor interest, leading the company to open the new extension of its Series A at a 3x multiple of the Series A valuation, underscoring strong investor confidence in Apptronik's vision for AI-powered robots that support people in every facet of life. With this fresh capital, Apptronik said it will ramp up production of its humanoid robot, Apollo, and expand its global network of commercial and pilot deployments. The investment will accelerate time to market and enable Apptronik to invest in projects that are needed to solve the use cases of its large number of retail, manufacturing, and logistics customers, including building state-of-the-art facilities for robot training and data collection. The company said the funding will also fuel continued innovation of its human-centered robot design, paving the way for a new robot set to debut in 2026. Apptronik has inked partnerships with some of the largest brands in the world, including Mercedes-Benz, GXO Logistics, and Jabil. Apptronik also has an industry-leading strategic partnership with Google DeepMind to build the next generation of humanoid robots, powered by Gemini Robotics. "Today's investment is a strong vote of confidence in our mission to deliver humanoid robots that are designed to work alongside humans, not just as tools but as trusted collaborators," said Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik. "With the backing of our longstanding investors and strategic partners, we're poised to unveil the newest version of Apollo and maximize the impact of embodied AI across industries. Together, we're transforming work flows, reimagining factory floors, and writing a new chapter for next-generation humanoid robots that are designed and built to drive meaningful societal progress." Apollo is the culmination of nearly a decade of development, drawing on Apptronik's extensive work on 15 previous robots, including NASA's Valkyrie robot. Apptronik started out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin and has nearly 300 employees.
Apptronik raises $520 million Series A extension at $5 billion valuation with backing from Google and Mercedes-Benz. Published February 11, 2026 Humanoid robotics startup Apptronik has secured a massive $520 million Series A extension, bringing its valuation to approximately $5 billion and reinforcing its position as one of the most serious contenders in the race to commercialize human-scale robots. The round includes backing from Google and Mercedes-Benz, alongside participation from B Capital and the Qatar Investment Authority. The Austin-based company plans to use the new capital to accelerate development of its Apollo humanoid robot, scale manufacturing, expand its workforce beyond 300 employees, and establish a dedicated robot training and data collection facility in Texas, along with a California office. From NASA roots to industrial deployments. Founded in 2016 as a spinout from the University of Texas, Apptronik traces its origins to early work on NASA's Valkyrie humanoid robot. That heritage shows in its engineering philosophy: build robots that operate in environments designed for humans, rather than redesigning the environment around machines. Its flagship robot, Apollo, is designed for manufacturing and logistics environments. Unlike traditional industrial robots that are fixed in place or designed for a single repetitive task, Apollo is human-scale and mobile. It combines bipedal movement with wheels, allowing it to navigate efficiently across factory floors while still accessing workstations, shelving, and tools built for people. Apptronik already has commercial agreements with Mercedes-Benz and GXO Logistics, focusing first on warehouse and factory use cases. Over time, the company aims to expand into assisted care and potentially home applications - a far more complex and competitive frontier. Mercedes Deploys Its First Humanoid Robots in the Factory Competing with Tesla and Figure robotics. The humanoid robotics field has quickly become one of the most high-profile battlegrounds in AI and advanced manufacturing. Tesla's Optimus program is perhaps the most widely recognized humanoid effort. Tesla is leveraging its expertise in AI, computer vision, and large-scale manufacturing to build a robot capable of performing repetitive industrial tasks. Optimus is still in development, but Tesla's ambition is long-term and sweeping - positioning humanoids as a future pillar of its business. Meanwhile, Figure AI has emerged as another heavyweight, recently commanding a valuation far above most peers. Backed by major technology investors, Figure is focused on building general-purpose humanoids capable of reasoning and adapting to varied environments. The company has leaned heavily into advanced AI integration and rapid iteration. Apptronik's strategy sits between these two approaches. It is pursuing commercial deployments now, particularly in manufacturing and logistics, while simultaneously investing in advanced AI capabilities to expand long-term functionality. Rather than framing the robot as a distant, generalized household assistant, Apptronik is anchoring Apollo in immediate industrial value creation. Its more modest valuation relative to some peers also suggests investors see significant upside potential as deployments scale. Deepening its partnership with Google DeepMind. A key differentiator for Apptronik is its deepening partnership with Google DeepMind. Rather than simply licensing software, the collaboration centers on co-developing Gemini-based AI models tailored specifically for embodied robotics. Apptronik provides the physical platform and real-world deployment data. Google DeepMind contributes advanced artificial intelligence models capable of perception, reasoning, and decision-making. This integration is critical: humanoid robots must not only move safely and precisely but also interpret dynamic environments and respond appropriately in real time. By combining hardware innovation with state-of-the-art AI systems, Apptronik is positioning Apollo as more than a mechanical automation tool. The aim is embodied intelligence - machines that can learn from physical experience and adapt to real-world complexity. Scaling toward broader adoption. With $520 million in fresh capital, Apptronik is accelerating its roadmap. The company expects expanded deployments in factories and warehouses over the next year, alongside increased investment in training infrastructure and workforce expansion. The broader race to commercialize humanoid robots is still in its early innings. Manufacturing and logistics represent the most practical starting point, where structured environments and labor shortages create immediate demand. If Apptronik can prove reliable, cost-effective performance at scale, it could establish itself as one of the defining companies in the sector. As Tesla, Figure AI, and other contenders push forward, Apptronik's blend of NASA-inspired engineering, industrial partnerships, and deep AI collaboration with Google places it firmly among the leaders shaping the future of humanoid robotics. Antoine is a visionary leader and founding partner of Unite.AI, driven by an unwavering passion for shaping and promoting the future of AI and robotics. A serial entrepreneur, he believes that AI will be as disruptive to society as electricity, and is often caught raving about the potential of disruptive technologies and AGI. As a futurist, he is dedicated to exploring how these innovations will shape our world. In addition, he is the founder of Securities.io, a platform focused on investing in cutting-edge technologies that are redefining the future and reshaping entire sectors.