RISE® Robotics · 1 month ago
Vice President of Engineering, Hardware & Embedded Software
Somerville, MA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
10+ years expRISE® Robotics is a company focused on robotics innovation, and they are seeking a Vice President of Engineering to lead their engineering organization. The role involves overseeing the integration of hardware and embedded software, driving technical innovation, and managing cross-functional teams to ensure successful product development and execution.
ManufacturingMechanical DesignRobotics
Responsibilities
Define and own the engineering vision and strategy for hardware and embedded software, aligning with Rise's product roadmap, market goals, and business strategy
Shape system architecture for robotics platforms: mechanical, electrical, firmware, embedded software, sensors, controls, communication, and networking
Drive technical innovation and ensure engineering design excellence, robustness, reliability and manufacturability in hardware and embedded systems
Maintain awareness of emerging technologies in robotics, sensors, AI, embedded systems, and advise on how to incorporate them into future products
Build, mentor and lead a high-performing engineering organization: hardware engineering (mechanical & electrical), firmware & embedded software engineering, system integration, test & validation
Define and implement recruiting, onboarding, performance management, professional development, and retention strategies for engineering talent
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, learning and innovation
Establish appropriate organizational structure, processes, and communication mechanisms to support rapid development, scaling, and cross-discipline coordination
Oversee end-to-end product development lifecycle from concept through design, prototyping, testing, validation, manufacturing, and launch
Establish accountability goals to measure engineering productivity, product quality, reliability, time to market, and post-launch field performance
Ensure rigorous hardware and embedded software verification, validation, and compliance with relevant standards (e.g., safety, EMC, reliability, field durability)
Manage budgets, timelines, and resource allocation across hardware and embedded software engineering initiatives
Drive design for manufacturability (DFM), design for test (DFT), reliability engineering, thermal/ mechanical/EMI/ESD compliance, and supplier/contract manufacturer engagement
Collaborate with operations and supply chain to move prototypes into pilot production and high-volume manufacturing while maintaining engineering integrity, field reliability and cost targets
Establish post-launch support, field feedback loops, & continuous improvement processes
Serve as a senior technical voice in the leadership team, contributing to business strategy, investment planning, go-to-market readiness, and customer growth
Work with the CEO to ensure engineering decisions support overall company objectives and customer needs
Represent engineering externally: with customers, partners, suppliers, industry events, key technical discussions, and possibly investors
Qualification
Required
10+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience in hardware and embedded software development, preferably in robotics, industrial automation, autonomous systems or related high-complexity domain
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics or related field
Proven track record of leading cross-disciplinary teams (mechanical, electrical, firmware, embedded software, systems integration) and delivering complete product platforms to market (ideally both hardware + embedded software)
Deep technical expertise in embedded systems (firmware, RTOS, drivers, middleware), electronics/PCB design, sensor integration, robotics controls, system architecture, and manufacturing readiness
Demonstrated experience collaborating across functions (product, manufacturing, operations, quality, supply chain) and influencing up to C-level
Strong business acumen: ability to align engineering roadmap with business goals, manage budgets, resource planning, timeline trade-offs and risk management
Excellent communication and leadership skills, capable of inspiring and mentoring engineering teams, setting vision and holding teams accountable for results
Comfortable working on-site in Somerville, MA, and capable of being hands-on when necessary (not purely executive)
Preferred
Advanced degree is a plus
Company
RISE® Robotics
The leader in high-performance and cost-effective electric linear actuation solutions, RISE® helps machine designers embrace high-efficiency, fuel-saving actuation solutions that compete with hydraulic cylinders.
11-50 employees
H1B Sponsorship
RISE® Robotics has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2020 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$22.23MKey Investors
AFWERXThe Engine
2025-08-15Grant· $3M
2024-04-22Series Unknown· $14.36M
2020-04-12Series Unknown· $3M
Leadership Team
Toomas Sepp
Co-Founder and Chief Engineer
Blake Sessions
Chief Technology Officer
Recent News
Right Side Capital Management
2025-11-10
2025-10-03
2025-08-15
Company data provided by crunchbase