Pickle Robot is seeking a passionate and experienced Software Engineering Manager, Human-Robot Interaction, to lead the team building the operator-facing software that puts our robots to work on the loading dock. This leader will own the applications, integrations, and data infrastructure that enable people to operate, monitor, and work alongside Pickle's robots in production environments.
The Human-Robot Interaction team sits at the critical intersection between people and autonomy, building the software that enables operators to deploy, monitor, and collaborate with Pickle’s robots in real-world warehouse environments. This team owns operator-facing applications, backend services, integrations, and telemetry systems that connect warehouse operators to Pickle’s autonomy platform.
The ideal candidate has managed software engineers at a robotics company and knows what it takes to ship production-grade, full-stack software in a fast-moving hardware environment. This is a great fit for a hands-on, in-the-trenches manager who wants meaningful ownership, close technical partnership with the team, and the opportunity to help shape how high-performing robotics and frontend software gets built and shipped. Success in this role means creating a seamless experience between warehouse operators and autonomous robots, ensuring people can confidently deploy, monitor, and collaborate with Pickle’s systems in production environments.
Responsibilities:
- Lead, mentor, and grow a team of backend and frontend engineers who build the operator-facing applications and the integration layer to the rest of the autonomy stack.
- Drive the technical vision and execution for Pickle’s human-robot interface software, ensuring a robust, reliable end-user experience and tight integration across the full software stack.
- Foster a culture of engineering excellence through code reviews, architecture discussions, iterative development, and a high bar for quality.
- Collaborate closely with Pickle’s other engineering managers to ensure seamless end-to-end system behavior. Able to participate in architectural discussions and provide technical guidance, even if not contributing code on a daily basis.
- Partner with Product and Program Management to scope features, track progress, and adapt to evolving priorities.
- Identify gaps in the team, whether structural or skill-based, and work with People Operations to hire, upskill, or supplement as needed.
- Represent the HRI function in cross-team initiatives and contribute to broader engineering strategy.
Skills & Experience:
- 2+ years of software engineering management experience at a deep tech, robotics, or hardware-focused company. Experience managing software engineers in robotics, autonomous systems, industrial automation, or other hardware-integrated environments.
- Demonstrated experience managing SWEs through complex technical and integration challenges, not just feature delivery.
- Working knowledge of how commands flow from an operator-facing application to an autonomous system.
- A strong communicator and mentor who gives clear feedback, develops engineers at all levels, and builds team confidence without lowering standards.
- Experience driving outcomes with both speed and excellence in highly ambiguous, fast-moving business environments.
- Willing and able to work from our Charlestown, MA office at least three times per week.
Skills Required
- 2+ years of software engineering management experience at a deep tech, robotics, or hardware-focused company.
- Experience managing software engineers through complex technical and integration challenges.
- Working knowledge of ROS or a similar robotics middleware framework.
- Strong communicator and mentor, able to provide clear feedback and develop engineers.
- Experience driving outcomes in fast-moving business environments.
- Willing and able to work from Charlestown, MA office at least three times per week.
What We Do
We believe the best working experience is one where machines do the heavy lifting and people do the problem solving. Our robots work with people in the messy world of warehouse loading docks, reducing the real physical pain of unloading trucks and containers radically amplifying what each person can accomplish. Founded by an exceptional cast of robotics and machine learning experts, Pickle creates robots that work alongside people in the very messy world of the loading dock, reducing the backbreaking human effort that goes into getting your online orders to your door.
