Robotics Architect ​/ Competence Manager

About The Role

This position will combine technical leadership with a strong focus on people and capability development. In this role, you will work closely with customers, engineering teams, and business stakeholders to shape robotics solutions and support strategic technology decisions. You will also play a key role in developing robotics expertise across the organization by fostering knowledge sharing, mentoring engineers, and helping define future competency areas.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute both to the technical direction of projects and to the long-term growth of our robotics community.

• Drive applied research and technology scouting by running PoCs, evaluating tools and models, and translating findings into recommendations for delivery and presales
• Lead competence development within Robotics & Advanced Automation, designing learning paths and growing engineers from trainee/junior to mid-level
• Build and maintain technology tracks across ROS2, robotics software, perception/AI, simulation, mechatronics, and hardware integration
• Deliver effective training programs, bootcamps, workshops, labs, and project-based learning while fostering a strong knowledge-sharing culture
• Create and manage skills frameworks, development plans, promotion criteria, and support technical evaluation processes
• Provide technical mentorship and hands-on support for selected projects, contributing to architecture, code quality, and engineering best practices

• 7+ years of hands‑on experience in robotics, autonomous systems, or advanced automation, with expertise in at least two key domains (e.g. industrial robotics, mobile robotics, perception & AI, simulation, mechatronics)
• Strong proficiency in ROS/ROS2, Python and/or C++, and modern software engineering practices including Git, CI/CD, and testing
• Proven experience in mentoring engineers, defining career frameworks, designing learning paths, and delivering technical training programs
• Ability to conduct technical research, run PoCs, assess engineering skills, and provide structured feedback and growth recommendations
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Robotics, Mechatronics, Computer Science, or a related field
• Experience with Isaac Sim, Gazebo, digital twins, robotics foundation models, open-source robotics projects, and/or leadership roles (Competence Lead, Tech Lead, Training Lead) is a strong plus

Soft Serve is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration regardless of race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, citizenship, disability, health condition, marital or family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.