Robotics Architect​/Competence Manager

Join to apply for the Robotics Architect / Competence Manager role at Soft Serve

Soft Serve is a global digital solutions company headquartered in Austin, Texas, founded in 1993 in Ukraine. Our associates work on 2,000+ projects with clients in the USA, Europe, and LATAM. We are a people‑first company that creates bold things, makes a difference, has fun, and loves what they do.

Soft Serve Robotics Group currently has over 50 passionate robotics engineers and continues to grow. Our projects vary, and we enjoy working in a changing environment while taking on new challenges. Our experienced team of experts focuses on optimization, modeling, and simulation projects in the robotics domain.

• An experienced Robotics professional with 7+ years of hands‑on work in robotics, autonomous systems, or advanced automation
• Skilled in at least two core domains (industrial robotics, mobile robotics, mechatronics, perception & AI, simulation) and familiar with the others
• Proficient in ROS/ROS2, modern C++ and/or Python, and well‑versed in software engineering best practices (Git, CI/CD, testing)
• Experienced in mentoring and competence development, including designing learning paths and delivering technical training programs
• Capable of objectively assessing technical skills, providing constructive feedback, and defining clear promotion criteria
• Comfortable with technical research, running PoCs, and documenting findings for practical application
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, capable of explaining complex concepts to engineers and non‑technical stakeholders
• Holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Robotics, Mechatronics, Computer Science, or a related field
• Knowledgeable in space robotics, high‑fidelity simulators (Isaac Sim, Gazebo), digital twins, or robotics foundation models
• Experienced as a Competence Lead, Tech Lead, or Training Lead
• Contributing to open‑source robotics projects

• Drive applied research and technology scouting by running lightweight PoCs, comparing tools and models, and translating findings into actionable recommendations for delivery and presales
• Own end‑to‑end competence development for Robotics & Advanced Automation, focusing on growing trainees and juniors into confident mid‑level engineers
• Design and continuously improve structured learning paths covering programming, robotics fundamentals, control, kinematics, and simulation
• Build clear technology tracks across ROS2, perception/ML, industrial and mobile robotics, mechatronics, and hardware integration
• Deliver high‑impact training formats, including bootcamps, internal courses, hands‑on labs, homework, and project‑based learning
• Create and maintain a transparent skills matrix for the group, identify gaps, and shape targeted upskilling plans
• Provide 1:1 and group mentorship, guiding engineers through technical and career growth challenges
• Define and calibrate promotion expectations (trainee → junior → mid‑level), ensuring clarity, predictability, and strong engineering standards
• Foster a knowledge‑sharing culture through tech talks, workshops, reading groups, and internal mini‑conferences
• Build reusable learning assets such as internal wikis, reference implementations, best‑practice templates, and project skeletons
• Contribute to technical evaluation and promotion boards, ensuring fairness and consistency across sub‑teams
• Stay hands‑on by supporting selected client and internal projects with architecture, code quality, simulation workflows, and integration decisions

• Provide learning and development opportunities supported by a structured career path
• Enable work across evolving technological stacks in emerging domains
• Offer a friendly environment with a team of experienced professionals, open to your ideas and solutions
• Support flexible working hours and a benefits package including medical insurance, additional paid vacation for birthdays, anniversary gifts, corporate events, and foreign language classes
• Enable participation in internal and external events to build and promote your personal brand

Seniority level:
Mid‑Senior level

Employment type:

Full‑time

Job function:
Research, Information Technology, and Engineering

Soft Serve is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, veteran status, and other protected characteristics under applicable law. Let’s put your talents and experience in motion with Soft Serve.