Director of Systems Engineering

About the Role (Position Overview):

Lead the Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test teams at Agility, collaborating closely with product, hardware, software, commercial, innovation, and manufacturing engineering teams to develop, validate, and deliver high-performance, industry-leading robots. Reporting directly to the VP of Hardware Engineering, this role is responsible for leading and developing a high-performing team and establishing scalable systems engineering, integration, and testing frameworks. The ideal candidate will drive the development of robust processes and ensure seamless cross-functional collaboration to support the successful delivery of cutting-edge robotic systems.

The Systems Engineering, Test, and Integration teams will own the processes and support structures across systems engineering, integration, and testing. This includes responsibility for requirements development and documentation, system architecture, system testing, integration, bring-up, debugging, support, and root cause analysis.  This position can be based either within commuting distance of our Salem, OR headquarters or remotely on the West Coast, with a preference for candidates in the San Francisco Bay Area.  For remote candidates, regular travel to Salem, typically 1-2 weeks per month, will be required. 

About the Work (Duties & Responsibilities):

• Team Leadership & Development: Manage and mentor the systems engineering, integration, and test teams while establishing and evolving systems engineering principles and best practices across the organization.
• Product Integration & Debug: Oversee the successful integration, bring-up, debugging, and root cause analysis of Agility’s robotic systems and peripherals throughout the product lifecycle.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with stakeholders from product, engineering, manufacturing, and field operations to address and resolve issues, ensuring timely and effective root cause analysis.
• Systems Engineering Advocacy: Champion systems engineering practices within Agility, driving a V-model approach to product development and ensuring adherence to robust systems engineering standards.
• Systems Architecture & Requirements Management: Lead the development and management of systems architecture, requirements documentation, and specifications. Ensure rigorous processes are in place for both verification (ensuring we built it right) and validation (ensuring we built the right product).
• Process, Tools & Standards Development: Build and maintain best-in-class systems engineering practices, developing processes, tools, and standards that scale with the company.
• Team Growth & Diversity: Expand and develop a team with diverse technical backgrounds, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
• Test Engineering Leadership: Develop and lead a high-performing test engineering team focused on robust software testing, hardware product verification,validation, and reliability.
• Collaboration with Operations: Work closely with manufacturing, production, operations, and commercial teams to ensure seamless execution and delivery.  Partner with manufacturing to develop test software and equipment that supports in-line and end-of-line testing, ensuring the quality and reliability of production systems.

About You (Minimum Qualifications):

The successful candidate should be an excellent coach, mentor, communicator, and leader and have:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering/science/robotics
• 10+ years of relevant experience in Systems Engineering and Test for complex electromechanical systems
• 5+ years of leadership experience in Hardware, Systems Engineering and Test Engineering
• Experience at the Director level or as a Senior Manager, leading other managers
• Experience in complex new system development and test from autonomous vehicles, robotics, aerospace, medical, or similar safety critical industry
• Effective communication skills and demonstrated success in a team environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience managing systems engineering, test, and validation.
• Prior experience in robotics or autonomous systems
• Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines to build consensus and drive complex systems to completion.
• Ability to drive team success through technical direction and empowerment.
• Experience in HAZID, HAZOP, FMEA/FMECA, Fault/Success Tree, and other Hazard Identification and Fault Management tools
• Experience in requirements definition and flow down, management, validation, and verification practices
• Experience with or leveraging information from system modeling tools in the support of system definition and requirements development.
• Experience with sub-system and interface definition, both internal to a company and with vendors or sub-contractors, in support of concurrent engineering development
• Robotics experience and leadership in robotics organization
• Advanced degree in engineering/science/robotics
• Experience with agile development
• Jira/Confluence experience
• Smartsheet experience
• Reliance or similar software experience
• Doors / JAMA or similar software experience