Senior Manager, Robotic Systems Software

About the Role

Arc Machines is revolutionizing advanced manufacturing at the micron and nano scales. Our Matter Compiler™ platform integrates precision motion, sensing, vision, and process control into coordinated production nodes. We are now seeking a Senior Manager, Robotics Software Engineering to lead the system-level software layer that orchestrates these nodes in production. This role is unique because most companies don't have such a position. You will architect and build the robotic systems software stack, including deterministic workflow engines, sequencing logic, and coordinated control across motion, vision, sensing, and I/O subsystems. You will also be responsible for bringing up nodes end-to-end, ensuring they are stable and reliable 24/7, and building observability into the foundation.

What You'll Do

• Architect and build the robotic systems software stack — deterministic workflow engines, sequencing logic, and coordinated control across motion, vision, sensing, and IO subsystems.
• Own node bring-up end-to-end: from first hardware integration through stable, repeatable 24/7 production operation.
• Set and hold the bar for fault detection, automated recovery, and safe-state transitions — the standards your team ships against.
• Build observability into the foundation: structured telemetry, synchronized diagnostics, and logging that makes root-cause analysis fast instead of painful.
• Stay hands-on; meaningful participation in design and code reviews, and direct involvement when the stakes are highest.
• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, robotics, manufacturing, and infrastructure teams to keep integration tight and surprises minimal.
• Take full ownership of delivery and technical direction across a set of production nodes or subsystems.
• Hire and develop the engineers who will define this discipline at Arc Machines — technical excellence and accountability are non-negotiable.

What You'll Need

• 10+ years building complex automation or robotic systems, with 5+ years leading engineering teams — ideally in environments where hardware and software failure modes are equally high-stakes.
• Deep, proven expertise designing deterministic orchestration systems or explicit state machines that run in production, not just in demos.
• Strong command of concurrency, event ordering, idempotency, and failure recovery in hardware-integrated systems — you've debugged these problems at 2am and know how to prevent them.
• Experience building or leveraging observability infrastructure for complex hardware-software systems.
• Working knowledge of real-time motion or embedded control, and a clear architectural instinct for where real-time and non-real-time layers should meet.
• Demonstrated success hiring, coaching, and scaling strong engineering teams under real delivery pressure.
• Systems-level thinking that spans hardware and software — you can hold both domains in your head simultaneously.
• BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent professional experience.