How to hire a robotics engineer

How to hire a robotics engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step robotics engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a robotics engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new robotics engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a robotics engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your robotics engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a robotics engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A robotics engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, robotics engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents robotics engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Robotics Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Robotics Engineer		$33-69
   Mechanical Engineer	Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues... Show more	$27-46
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Linux
   • CAD
   • ROS
   • PLC
   • MATLAB
   • FANUC
   • OpenCV
   • C
   • C++
   • HMI
   • Control Systems
   • Troubleshoot
   • Technical Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage: client presentations; robotic configuration designs; welding/cutting/assembly programs; trade show exhibitions.
   • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
   • Develop automated test benches using C++ and MATLAB with capabilities to analyze the sensor data.
   • Provide design documentation and mechanical engineering support for the chemical industry using AutoCAD software
   • Design the speed bump camera system in SolidWorks.
   • Provide engineering support of robotic arm operations for NASA shuttle missions.

   More robotics engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your robotics engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A robotics engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a robotics engineer in Ohio may be lower than in Nevada, and an entry-level robotics engineer usually earns less than a senior-level robotics engineer. Additionally, a robotics engineer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average robotics engineer salary

   $101,208yearly

   $48.66 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level robotics engineer salary

   $70,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average robotics engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$131,799	$63
   2	Alabama	$112,065	$54
   3	Washington	$110,347	$53
   4	Massachusetts	$107,767	$52
   5	Texas	$103,043	$50
   6	Maryland	$102,874	$49
   7	Colorado	$97,547	$47
   8	Arkansas	$96,678	$46
   9	Pennsylvania	$88,418	$43
   10	North Carolina	$86,424	$42
   11	New York	$85,903	$41
   12	Illinois	$85,740	$41
   13	Georgia	$82,135	$39
   14	Ohio	$79,992	$38
   15	Michigan	$79,636	$38
   16	Indiana	$75,772	$36
   17	Tennessee	$75,424	$36

   Average robotics engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$145,705	$70.05	31
   2	Apple	$144,338	$69.39	250
   3	Waymo	$138,792	$66.73	36
   4	Google	$134,935	$64.87	80
   5	Cruise Automation	$132,978	$63.93
   6	Vicarious	$125,281	$60.23
   7	Quidel	$120,944	$58.15
   8	Hyperloop Transportation Technologies	$120,632	$58.00
   9	Koch Industries	$119,576	$57.49	2
   10	Magic Leap	$117,726	$56.60	2
   11	Fresh Consulting	$115,648	$55.60	3
   12	Amazon	$115,595	$55.57	218
   13	Genentech	$114,548	$55.07	4
   14	Drone Racing League	$114,204	$54.91
   15	P&G	$112,567	$54.12	24
   16	California Institute of Technology	$111,889	$53.79	1
   17	CloudMinds Tech	$110,575	$53.16
   18	CyberCoders	$110,393	$53.07	2
   19	Tesla	$110,266	$53.01
   20	Knightscope	$110,192	$52.98	7

4. Writing a robotics engineer job description

   A job description for a robotics engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a robotics engineer job description:

   Robotics engineer job description example

   Quidel's mission is to provide patients with immediate and frequent access to highly accurate, affordable testing for the good of our families, our communities and the world. We are a leading manufacturer of point of care diagnostic solutions. Quidel's comprehensive product portfolio includes tests for a wide range of infectious diseases, cardiac and autoimmune biomarkers, as well as a host of products to detect COVID-19.
   
   We are excited to announce that Quidel Corporation is now becoming QuidelOrtho! This transaction will bring together two world-class teams and complementary product portfolios to serve patients around the world. During this transition period, we encourage you to continue visiting our career site and also check out more career opportunities at Careers at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics | Ortho Clinical Diagnostics jobs Join our journey as we become one global diagnostics leader!
   
   Quidel is looking for a Sr. Robotics Engineer to join our R&D Instrument Systems team at our Corporate site located in Sorrento Valley/Mira Mar. As a Senior Robotic Engineer, you will play a lead role in implementing our robotic automation strategy by using full cycle project management and leadership experience implementing cutting-edge robotic automation applications for our Instruments within Research and Development. This person will be responsible for the system integration, verification, and validation of robotics solutions to automate testing.
   
   In this role, you will work closely with multi-disciplinary teams to develop and integrate hardware systems for potential future use. The position requires the ability for independent precise detail design work as well as high level system understanding. Also required are excellent communication and leadership skills.
   
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Design and conduct experiments and test pertaining to the resolution to complex technical problems.Actively participates on design teams, understands Instrument Systems goals and timelines, and provides leadership to ensure change success Implement and sustain custom robotics and human-assistive automation to provide ergonomic, poka-yoke solutions for assembly and test related tasks Leads and is personally accountable for high profile project timelines and milestones Defining opportunities to develop and deploy custom robotics, machine design concepts and computer vision solutions Ability to work with minimal supervision Maintains design change documentation in accordance with internal Quidel and external regulatory requirements as part of the design control process Generate reports to document experimentation plans and results Provides technical updates to management and is accountable for costs and timeline Actively communicates project status, challenges, concerns, and resource constraints to area management Writes design change documentation and executes/supervise associated activities.Maintains detailed and organized notebook records Aids in improvement of manufacturing processes Actively solicits input from key stakeholders Carries out duties in compliance with established business policies
   
   EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Masters or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, EECS, Computer Engineering, Robotics or equivalent Minimum of five (5) years professional experience in end-to-end R&D life cycle management and product release4+ years of hands-on experience and proven track record in hardware development Minimum three (3) years of professional experience in leading the electromechanical product verification and validation testing design and execution
   
   KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS: Basic mechanical and electronics engineering Experience designing mechanisms with various forms of actuation, such as direct drive, series elastic actuators, etc.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Good organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks Ability to work within cross functional teams Strong communication skills, written and verbal Must exhibit professionalism, confidence, maturity, desire to succeed, proactive and self-motivated Ability to participate in planning and managing projects Working knowledge of product development tools and processes (e.g. Design Input, Design Output, Design Verification and Validation, Product Risk Management) Knowledge of related quality systems regulations and processes Experience designing and building functional prototypes of mechatronic systems incorporating compute, sensing, and actuation, from selecting drivers to onboard computer platforms Experience working with interdisciplinary fabrication teams to build and assemble prototypes Familiar with simulation and modeling tools (CAD, NX, Matlab, etc.) Proven technical troubleshooting and data analytics skills Effective presentation and interpersonal communication skill
   #LI-TO1
   
   Before you apply, please make sure you share Quidel' s values. We pride ourselves on keeping these values in mind every day as we execute on goals and plan for the future. We are seeking employees who share the same mindset and commitment to be customer driven, focused on execution, and new product oriented. We succeed by being determined, optimistic team players.
   
   Quidel is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer (Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans). We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find robotics engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your robotics engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit robotics engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit robotics engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new robotics engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the robotics engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new robotics engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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