Process Engineer/Robotic Programmer

About the role

Sapience Automation, a reputable provider of turnkey solutions for industrial automation, serves diverse industries including automotive, medical, aviation, building products, general industrial, domestic appliances, and food. Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, the company is committed to fostering long‑term customer relationships through excellence, transparency, continuous learning, and accountability. As a Robotics Engineer (Process Engineer / Robot Programmer), you will design, develop, and implement robotic systems for various applications, contributing to the seamless integration of automation technology in manufacturing and industrial processes.

Responsibilities

• Robot Program Development: Create and optimize robot programs for material handling, assembly, painting, packaging, and other tasks; utilize robot simulation software to develop and thoroughly test these programs before deployment.
• Project Process Engineering Lead: Work collaboratively with the engineering team for overall system design including tooling and related machines; use robot simulation software to validate cycle times, system design, and tooling designs; coordinate other robot programmers during testing and implementation; perform validation of vision, grippers, spray guns, dispensing equipment and other associated devices during the engineering phase; ensure all program design standards are met.
• System Design and Proposal Engineering: Collaborate with Application Engineering and Sales teams to engineer and propose robot systems; use 3D CAD software and robot simulation tools to design efficient and effective robotic solutions.
• Layout Validation and Optimization: Validate robot system layouts during proposal and engineering phases using simulation software; work closely with mechanical engineers to optimize robot placement and tooling design.
• Vision Systems and Integration: Program and implement vision systems and inspection tools associated with the robots; collaborate with Controls Engineers to integrate robots with PLCs and other control devices.
• Testing and Deployment: Conduct Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Modular Build phases at Sapience’s facility; develop project‑specific plans and timelines for robot program development and testing; implement and test programs on‑site at customer facilities, serving as the main technical contact.
• Project Coordination: Coordinate with other robot programmers on larger projects that require multiple process engineers.
• Customer Training: (Implied as part of on‑site implementation and testing duties.)

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field or equivalent industry experience.
• Proficiency in robot programming languages.
• Experience with robot simulation software.
• Understanding of 3D CAD tools.
• Familiarity with PLCs and control systems.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively.