Forward Deployed Engineer - AI Partnerships

Forward Deployed Engineer - AI Partnerships

Location San jose, CA Date Posted July 29, 2026 Job ID 15153 Employment Type Direct Hire

Scion Staffing has been engaged to conduct a search for a Forward Deployed Robotics Engineer for our partner, an established global technology organization advancing robotics, intelligent automation, and physical AI. This is a hybrid position based in the San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area, with work performed primarily at local partner locations and remote flexibility when not onsite. Candidates must reside in or near the Bay Area.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Forward Deployed Robotics Engineer will work directly with leading AI developers and robotics partners to integrate intelligent applications onto advanced robotic platforms. This highly visible position combines hands-on robot integration, software development, technical troubleshooting, and partner-facing consulting, with an initial emphasis on robotic arms and manipulators. The engineer will bridge the gap between robotics research and successful real-world deployment while helping shape future platform features based on partner needs.

PERKS:

• Competitive base salary of $150,000-$225,000, plus eligibility for a discretionary bonus
• Comprehensive benefits offerings
• Flexible hybrid arrangement with remote work available outside of partner-site engagements
• Direct exposure to emerging physical AI technologies and leading AI and robotics innovators
• High-impact opportunity to influence both partner success and the continued development of advanced robotics platforms

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the primary technical contact for AI and robotics partners, providing hands-on support during onsite, sprint-style integration engagements that may range from approximately two weeks to one month.
• Develop and adapt production-quality software using Python, ROS2, Linux, and command-line tools to connect partner applications with robotic systems and interfaces.
• Integrate, configure, test, and troubleshoot robotic arms and manipulators, with additional opportunities to support autonomous mobile robotics platforms.
• Diagnose complex issues across software, hardware, sensors, networking, motion planning, trajectory execution, control loops, calibration, timing, and overall system performance.
• Collaborate with partners to design platform capabilities, build reference implementations, create integration examples, and contribute reusable tools and technical guidance.
• Support the integration of perception and learning-based technologies-including pose estimation, path planning, object detection, and related AI models-and communicate real-world partner feedback to internal product and engineering teams.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Robotics, Mechatronics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field is required; a master's degree is welcomed.
• Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in robotics engineering, robotic manipulation, systems integration, or a closely related area.
• Substantial hands-on experience with robotic arms or manipulators, including hardware integration, robot bring-up, testing, debugging, or deployment; mobile robotics experience is an added advantage.
• Strong programming experience with Python, working knowledge of ROS2, and comfort operating in Linux and command-line environments; familiarity with NVIDIA technologies is preferred.
• Practical understanding of robot control, kinematics, motion planning, trajectory execution, communication interfaces, and hardware/software integration.
• At least 1 year of exposure to AI or deep learning in a robotics environment, such as perception, object detection, pose estimation, or path planning; familiarity with simulation tools, vision-language-action models, or robotic foundation models is a plus.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently, build credibility with highly technical partners, and spend extended periods working at Bay Area partner locations.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

This exciting career opportunity offers a base salary of $150 - 225k/yr (DOE), plus eligibility for a discretionary bonus. The selected candidate will also be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee well-being, and work-life balance. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, education, technical expertise, location, and other job-related factors.

HOW TO APPLY: For immediate consideration, please submit your resume here!

ABOUT OUR SEARCH FIRM:

Scion Staffing is a national award-winning staffing firm! Since 2006, we have had the pleasure of successfully placing thousands of talented professionals with amazing career opportunities. Through our innovative team building and recruiting solutions, we bridge the gap in executive leadership searches, direct hire recruiting, interim leadership placement, and temporary professional staffing. We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Recruitment Firms and the Best Executive Search Firms in America. Additionally, Scion has been recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times. Additional information about our firm can also be found online.

Scion Staffing, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent. For opportunities located in a region that have enacted fair chance, arrest or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Staffing proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.