Sr Director, System Engineering Robotics/Physical AI

Senior Director, Systems Engineering – Robotics / Physical AI

Location: San Jose, California

About UltraSense

UltraSense is building the sensing layer for the next generation of physical AI. Our platform combines ultrasound, mixed-signal electronics, embedded software, algorithms, and system design to enable tactile sensing and near-field intelligence for robotics and smart machines.

We are looking for a senior engineering leader who can translate core sensing technology into complete, production-ready systems.

Role Summary

As Senior Director, Systems Engineering, you will lead the system-level definition, architecture, integration, and execution of UltraSense robotics solutions. You will drive products from concept through validation, customer deployment, and manufacturing release.

This role is ideal for a strong EE-based systems leader who can work above the chip level and lead full system realization across hardware, firmware, software, algorithms, mechanics, and manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead systems engineering strategy and execution for UltraSense robotics and physical AI solutions. 
• Define system architecture for products combining sensors, electronics, firmware, software, algorithms, and mechanical integration. 
• Translate core technology into customer-ready systems for robotics, industrial, and intelligent edge applications. 
• Own system requirements, technical tradeoffs, integration plans, and execution from concept through release. 
• Lead cross-functional teams across hardware, firmware, software, algorithms, test, mechanical, operations, and quality. 
• Drive development of systems for tactile sensing, force/contact interaction, near-field object detection, and scene understanding. 
• Establish robust verification and validation plans, including characterization, calibration, reliability, and system-level performance testing. 
• Lead prototype bring-up, debugging, integration, and system validation. 
• Work directly with customers and partners to define requirements and support design-in activities. 
• Ensure systems are manufacturable, testable, scalable, and ready for NPI and production ramp. 
• Oversee system documentation including requirements, architecture specifications, validation plans, BOMs, and release materials. 
• Build and mentor a high-performing systems engineering team. 

Required Qualifications

• M.S. in Electrical Engineering or related field; Ph.D. is a plus. 
• 12 years of experience in systems engineering, product development, or complex sensor-based systems. 
• 5 years leading cross-functional engineering teams and delivering products to market. 
• Strong system-level background in electronics, embedded systems, firmware/software integration, and validation. 
• Proven ability to translate new technology into commercial, production-ready systems. 
• Strong understanding of sensor systems, embedded architectures, and real-world system tradeoffs. 
• Experience with requirements definition, system architecture, verification, and performance metrics. 
• Proven success in prototype development, integration, debugging, and manufacturing ramp. 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. 
• Strong analytical and organizational skills in a fast-paced environment. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in robotics, automation, industrial sensing, physical AI, or intelligent edge systems. 
• Experience with tactile sensing, force sensing, ultrasound, imaging, or advanced sensing technologies is a plus.
• Experience with embedded software, real-time systems, sensor fusion, or edge inference. 
• Experience with calibration, signal processing, and algorithm validation. 
• Startup experience and hands-on technical leadership. 
• Experience in automotive or other high-reliability markets is a plus. 
• Familiarity with PLM, BOM release, DFM/DFT, qualification flows, and contract manufacturing. 

Why Join UltraSense

This is an opportunity to help define how machines physically understand and interact with the world. You will work at the intersection of sensing, electronics, software, and product design to create systems that make robotics more capable, intuitive, and aware.