About this role:
Pickle Robot is seeking an experienced Electrical Engineering Manager to lead the design, development, and validation of electrical systems powering and controlling our fleet of robotic unloaders. You’ll play a critical role in architecting next-generation hardware platforms while managing a small, highly capable team of electrical and firmware engineers. This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll own technical direction and execution, collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, software, and deployment teams, and drive hardware platforms from concept through production.
If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy leading talented engineers while staying close to the tech, this is the opportunity for you.
What You’ll Accomplish:
Manage, mentor, and support a multidisciplinary team of electrical and firmware engineers.
Guide career growth, hiring, and team development as the company scales.
Define and evolve system-level electrical architectures, including power distribution, PCB design, cables and harnesses, cameras, safety systems, and sensors/actuators.
Drive design reviews, safety considerations, DFM/DFT practices, and validation efforts.
Lead firmware team to develop solutions to bring-up PLC, drive systems, safety devices, and embedded systems.
Ensure clear communication and shared roadmaps across the electrical and firmware stacks.
Work closely with Mechanical, Software, Product, and Deployment teams to integrate electrical systems into reliable, field-ready robots.
Interface with vendors and manufacturing partners to support prototyping, production, and testing.
Work closely with the System and Validation Team to define test plans, validation criteria, develop test fixtures, and debug procedures for new and existing designs.
Support field and fleet teams in diagnosing and resolving electrical or embedded issues.
Align engineering direction with company goals and product roadmap.
Contribute to planning cycles, technical strategy, and risk assessment
Who You Are:
10+ years of experience in electrical engineering, with at least 5 years in a technical leadership or management role.
Experience delivering robust electrical systems for robotics, industrial automation, or embedded hardware products.
Deep knowledge of PCB design, power systems, signal integrity, and hardware interfaces.
Familiarity with embedded microcontrollers, I2C/SPI/UART/CAN protocols, and real-world sensor integration.
Skilled in reviewing and supporting firmware for hardware validation and diagnostics.
Proficient in electrical simulation, schematic capture, and PCB layout (e.g., Altium, KiCAD).
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills—able to interface with mechanical, software, and product teams.
Experience managing roadmaps, team priorities, and project execution.
Ability to give and receive feedback constructively across disciplines.
Experience scaling hardware teams in a startup or high-growth environment preferred.
Familiarity to compliance and safety standards (e.g., UL, CE, IEC, ISO, RIA,etc.), EMI/EMC compliance, and field reliability practices.
Background in robotics systems or automation platforms.
Willing and able to work from our HQ in Charlestown, MA at least 3 days a week.
Pay at Pickle
At Pickle Robot Company, we believe transparency builds trust. The salary range listed here is provided in accordance with Massachusetts law and reflects what we reasonably and in good faith expect to offer for this role. We often consider candidates at different levels of seniority, and final compensation will reflect the level at which a candidate is hired, along with factors like experience and location.
About Pickle Robot
Want to get in on the ground floor of a fast-growing, VC-backed robotics company? Join Pickle Robot! We build systems that companies and their teams love.
Pickle robots unload trucks. Every day, millions of trucks and containers are loaded and unloaded, often requiring manual labor—tough, dirty, dangerous, and hard to staff. Pickle automates this process using AI, machine learning, and robotics to deliver reliable products. Our Unload Systems work with teams on loading docks to make the job safer, faster, and more efficient.
Pickle provides best-in-class benefits including health, dental, & vision insurance; unlimited vacation, along with all federal and state holidays; 401K contributions of 5% your salary, travel supplies, and other items to make your working life more fun, comfortable, and productive.
