How to hire a robotics systems engineer

How to hire a robotics systems engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step robotics systems 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 systems engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new robotics systems engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a robotics systems engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a robotics systems engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a robotics systems engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a robotics systems engineer that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of robotics systems engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Robotics Systems Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Robotics Systems Engineer		$37-68
   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
   Principal Engineer	A principal engineer is responsible for monitoring the overall design phase of the construction process, including coordinating with the client for progress and updates, as well as performing adjustments as needed based on clients' specifications and requirements. Principal engineers also inspect the materials and resources used to ensure that the project stays within the budget goals and set timeframe... Show more	$45-85

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • C++
   • MATLAB
   • CAD
   • Mechanical Systems
   • Design Reviews
   • Prototyping
   • PLC
   • NASA
   • Configuration Management
   • Artificial Intelligence
   • Design Assembly
   • FANUC
   • CNC
   • Automation Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop Perl scripts to automate object model and functional mapping into the application metadata and database.
   • Support CNC machines and automate equipment incorporating Allen Bradley PLC's.
   • Gain experience with robotic PLC programming.
   • Integrate Foba laser systems with Fanuc robotics for laser marking pick and place applications.
   • Analyze UNIX systems performance indicators and modify kernel configurations to enhance system operations and applications throughput.
   • Establish standards, policies and procedures for all aspects of Unix server environment like administration, documentation and configuration.

   More robotics systems engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your robotics systems engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A robotics systems engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, robotics systems engineers' average salary in hawaii is 45% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level robotics systems engineers 44% less than senior-level robotics systems engineers.
   • Certifications. A robotics systems engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a robotics systems engineer's salary.

   Average robotics systems engineer salary

   $106,361yearly

   $51.14 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level robotics systems engineer salary

   $79,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average robotics systems engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$129,750	$62
   2	Massachusetts	$117,018	$56
   3	Washington	$112,908	$54
   4	Texas	$110,460	$53
   5	Idaho	$109,184	$52
   6	Maryland	$105,198	$51
   7	Arizona	$102,024	$49
   8	Florida	$100,988	$49
   9	Missouri	$96,429	$46
   10	Virginia	$92,932	$45
   11	North Carolina	$88,842	$43
   12	Illinois	$88,434	$43
   13	Georgia	$85,710	$41
   14	Michigan	$81,751	$39

   Average robotics systems engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$148,650	$71.47	428
   2	NVIDIA	$123,396	$59.33	38
   3	Vicarious	$116,756	$56.13
   4	CyberCoders	$114,820	$55.20
   5	Amazon	$114,493	$55.04	272
   6	Booz Allen Hamilton	$108,456	$52.14	140
   7	MITRE	$103,069	$49.55	33
   8	General Electric	$102,695	$49.37	234
   9	Auris Health	$101,772	$48.93
   10	Outrider	$101,630	$48.86
   11	Bradley-Morris	$100,244	$48.19
   12	House Film Design	$99,027	$47.61
   13	Raymond	$97,608	$46.93
   14	Johnson & Johnson	$97,088	$46.68	35
   15	Wells Fargo	$95,936	$46.12	16
   16	Draper	$94,091	$45.24	22
   17	Tenaris	$93,323	$44.87	1
   18	Jet Propulsion Laboratory	$86,188	$41.44
   19	Axiom Space	$85,061	$40.89	10

4. Writing a robotics systems engineer job description

   A robotics systems engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a robotics systems engineer job description:

   Robotics systems engineer job description example

   Greenzie is hiring a Robotic Systems Engineer on our Robotics team to further our mission to free humans from repetitive outdoor labor. We're accepting applications on an on-going basis, with flexible start dates, but ideally we'd have someone tomorrow if we could.
   JOB DESCRIPTION
   
   As a Robotic Systems Engineer you will:
   Develop new hardware for our autonomous outdoor robotics platform. Interface with our manufacturing partners to take our prototype design into mass production. Create complete documentation for robotic systems. Participate in daily stand-ups, weekly sprint planning, retrospectives, and roadmap planning Build a great company: it's up to you how involved you want to be. We are an open book and share the experience of building a company from customer discovery to sales to marketing, you can participate and learn all aspects of business.
   ABOUT YOU
   
   As a candidate you already:
   Have experience developing and evaluating mechatronic systems Have experience using prototyping tools: small hand tools, electronics bench, etc. Know how use CAD software for mechanical (Solidworks) and/or electrical design (KiCad/Eagle) An analytical mind Are familiar with C++, Python, or other programming languages Desire to free humans from hard, manual labor
   
   Nice to have
   Have flashed a microcontroller with code you've written Have used the Robotic Operating System (ROS) You've mowed a lawn or two Appreciate a results-based, startup culture
   
   We have big goals, but try to zoom out on high-level initiatives when appropriate to get day to day work, week to week planning, and big quarterly projects done.
   
   You can expect an on-boarding process involving safety training (we're big on safety), some mindful "brain dumps," and space and time to learn and figure out how to work best. We seek to provide feedback quickly and often, we praise publicly, and deliver critical feedback privately. You can expect to be given meaningful work, to take ownership of features, processes, and to deliver working code and product. We are in this for the long haul. We need your help.
   
   PAY & BENEFITS
   
   We benchmark our pay against Atlanta employers and offer competitive equity plans for new employees.
   
   Benefits at Greenzie are based on helping you maintain a healthy and happy life outside of work. We believe we can only work as well as we treat our healthso we encourage employees to take advantage of our generous vacation and leave policies.
   
   We have office space in West Midtown, but as a Result-Only Work Environment, we support getting your work done however and wherever works best and pay for whatever hardware setup works best for you. MacBook Pro? Sure! Slick ThinkPad running Ubuntu? Absolutely.
   
   This is all on top of best-in class health plans (medical, dental, and vision), retirement matching, as well as employer paid long and short term disability, and life insurance policies.
   
   We practice open book on how we run the company, from our salary leveling charts outlining how we compensate, to our last funding round, to our cash burn and latest pitch deck.
   
   HOW TO APPLY
   
   Please apply using the button below, so we can be fair to everyone who applies.
   
   We used to do interviewing wrong and would talk about us and our mission and get excited about everything we're doingand learn nothing about you, so now we do the opposite. It may seem one-way to start, but we really want to learn about you. We'll do a telephone pre-screen with open-ended questions meant to understand how you think and to evaluate your fit for the role.
   
   If you're not a fit, we'll let you know immediately, and deliver some feedback right away. If you make it to the next step, we'll then invite you to do a skills test we'll review (well, a few of us will). Then we will schedule an in-person (or video for those who are remote) interview. Interviews will include a few staff and some more open-ended questions. No white boarding, no puzzles. If you make it to the next step, we'll ask for some references, and make an offer based on our leveling charts. We'll fight hard to get you to join us. But first, we need to hear from you.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find robotics systems engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any robotics systems engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level robotics systems engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit robotics systems engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 systems engineer

   Once you've found the robotics systems engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new robotics systems engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire a robotics systems engineer?