Manager, Test Operations

Role Overview

Apptronik is building advanced humanoid robots at scale, and manufacturing test is a critical part of ensuring reliability, quality, and production readiness across all robot subsystems.

We are seeking a Manager, Test Operations to be a hands-on technical leader to drive development, maintainability, and scalable hardware and software integrated solutions used for manufacturing and validation testing of robotic systems. This role will work closely with test and validation engineers, systems engineers, firmware developers, manufacturing, and operations teams to implement robust and maintainable test infrastructure supporting products from early NPI through production ramp.

This is a highly hands-on role focused on test automation, systems integration and manufacturing support in a fast-paced robotics environment.

Responsibilities

Manufacturing Test Development

Lead the team that deploys manufacturing test software and hardware for:

PCBAs

Actuators

Cable harnesses

Electromechanical subassemblies

Full robot system testing

Ensure the team develops scalable and modular test frameworks used across multiple test stations and product lines

Focus the team on delivering automated functional tests, hardware validation tools, and diagnostic utilities to the manufacturing floor.

Establish criteria for APIs and interfaces between test software and hardware systems

Own the testing process reliability, maintainability, and deployment consistency across manufacturing environments

Champion flawless integration of:

Embedded systems

Firmware interfaces

Sensors and actuators

Motion control systems

Data acquisition hardware

Establish technical direction for hardware bring-up, debug activities, troubleshooting and communication issues in manufacturing environments

Collaborate with test and validation engineering teams to ensure products are designed with testability and manufacturability in mind

Drive best practices and process improvements within the test organization

Ensure test documentation, procedures, and architecture diagrams are maintained

Implement code reviews and software release processes (CI/CD)

Manufacturing Operations Support

Deliver processes and key metrics that provide actionable data for:

Ensuring internal manufacturing operations and contract manufacturers are fully supported for deployment, maintenance, and troubleshooting of manufacturing test stations

Supporting rapidly changing production ramps and resolving manufacturing test issues to minimize downtime

Proposing manufacturing test requirements and workflows for future products

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or related field

5+ years of experience in leading complex electromechanical system test development for automated manufacturing systems

Excellent communication and stakeholder management; able to represent the team to senior leadership and customers.

Proven technical leadership — leading engineers and owning delivery of complex, cross-disciplinary systems.

Formal people-management experience — hiring, developing, and directing a team.

Willingness to travel to manufacturing sites, up to 20%

Experience leading teams engaged with:

Embedded systems

Hardware/software integration

Serial communication protocols

Networked systems

Familiarity with modern software development practices:

Git

Code reviews

CI/CD workflows

Issue tracking systems (Jira or similar)

Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills working with complex electromechanical systems

Comfortable working in fast-paced and evolving environments

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in robotics, aerospace, automotive, or similar electromechanical systems

Experience with communication protocols: ROS/ROS2, EtherCAT, CAN, RS485 …etc

Experience with manufacturing databases, MES systems, or traceability systems

Experience developing scalable architectures for test infrastructure

Familiarity with Linux-based development environments

Experience with automated data analysis and reporting tools

Experience supporting contract manufacturers or production environments

Experience using AI-assisted software development tools and workflows

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of standing and walking

Periods of sitting at a workstation and working on a computer

Ability to safely lift and/or move approximately 15 pounds at times.

Ability to move throughout operational areas and maintain awareness of surrounding people, equipment, and robotic systems.

Visual ability necessary to operate equipment, monitor robotic systems, and read printed and digital materials.

Ability to communicate effectively with team members during normal operations and when responding to safety or operational concerns.