1

Robotics Operations Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Robot Operations Manager

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $190K/yr

Figure is an AI Robotics company developing autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. Our mission ... Our Robot Operations team is responsible for deploying humanoid robots into real-world environments ...

Figure is an AI Robotics company developing autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. Our mission ... Our Robot Operations team is responsible for deploying humanoid robots into real-world environments ...

Robot Service Controller

San Carlos, CA · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

Holds supervisors accountable for process adherence and meeting execution targets REQUIREMENTS * 5+ years in manufacturing, hardware service, robotics operations or production leadership * Proven ...

You will work closely with AI and robotics engineers, as well as operations managers, to ensure technical issues are quickly identified, root-caused, and resolved-driving reliability and scalability ...

Help define component and subsystem performance requirements, and develop test plans to ensure reliable robot operation across a diverse range of tasks and environments * Support design of robot HW ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Robotics Operations information

What are Robotics Operations?

Robotics Operations refers to the management, monitoring, and maintenance of robotic systems within various environments, such as manufacturing, logistics, or research facilities. Professionals in robotics operations ensure that robots perform tasks efficiently and safely, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate with other teams to optimize workflow. This role typically involves overseeing both software and hardware aspects of robotic systems, implementing updates, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Robotics operations specialists play a critical part in maximizing robotic productivity and minimizing downtime.

What do robotics operators do?

Robotics operators are responsible for setting up, monitoring, and maintaining robotic systems used in manufacturing, logistics, or other industries. They troubleshoot issues, ensure safety protocols are followed, and may program or adjust robots to optimize performance. Proficiency with control systems and safety standards is essential for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Robotics Operations, and why are they important?

To thrive in Robotics Operations, you need a solid background in robotics engineering, automation, and troubleshooting, often supported by a degree in engineering or related fields. Familiarity with programming languages (such as Python or C++), robotics control systems, and commonly used platforms like ROS (Robot Operating System) is typically expected. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure the smooth operation, maintenance, and optimization of robotic systems, minimizing downtime and supporting organizational efficiency.

What is the difference between Robotics Operations vs Robotics Engineering?

AspectRobotics OperationsRobotics Engineering
Required CredentialsAssociate's or Bachelor's in Robotics, Automation, or related fieldBachelor's or Master's in Robotics, Mechanical, Electrical, or Software Engineering
Work EnvironmentManufacturing plants, automation facilities, maintenance settingsDesign labs, development centers, research environments
Employer & Industry UsageManufacturers, automation companies, service providersResearch institutions, tech companies, R&D departments
Common Search & ComparisonYesNo

Robotics Operations focuses on maintaining, troubleshooting, and managing robotic systems in industrial or service settings. Robotics Engineering involves designing, developing, and testing robotic systems. While both roles require technical knowledge, Operations emphasizes hands-on system management, whereas Engineering centers on creation and innovation.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Robotics Operations, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Robotics Operations often encounter challenges such as troubleshooting hardware or software malfunctions, maintaining high uptime for robotic systems, and adapting to rapidly evolving technologies. To address these, it’s important to develop strong problem-solving skills, stay updated with the latest industry advancements, and collaborate closely with engineering and IT teams. Additionally, effective communication and thorough documentation help ensure smooth handoffs during shift changes and enable the team to respond quickly to operational issues.

How much do robotics operators make?

Robotics operators typically earn a median annual salary of around $50,000 to $70,000, depending on experience, industry, and location. They often work with programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and robotic systems, requiring technical skills and certifications. Salaries can vary based on the complexity of the robotics systems and the level of responsibility.

What engineering jobs pay $500,000?

Senior robotics engineers, automation directors, and engineering managers in high-tech industries can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in AI and machine learning, and leadership roles. These positions often require advanced degrees, specialized certifications, and a strong track record of project management and innovation.

Is robotics a dead field?

Robotics is an active and growing field with applications in manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and research. Robotics operations roles require skills in automation, programming, and systems management, and demand continues to increase as technology advances. The industry offers ongoing opportunities for professionals with relevant technical expertise and certifications.
What are the most commonly searched types of Robotics Operations jobs in California? The most popular types of Robotics Operations jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Robotics Operations jobs? Cities in California with the most Robotics Operations job openings:
Infographic showing various Robotics Operations job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 91% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Remote job distribution.
Robotic Operations Engineer

Robotic Operations Engineer

Chef Robotics

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

Chef Robotics is accelerating the deployment of intelligent machines in the physical world, starting with food production - the sector facing the largest labor shortage in the U.S., with 1.14M unfilled jobs today and 3.1M projected by 2030. These roles can't be offshored, making robotics essential to keeping production onshore and strengthening America's manufacturing base.
Our AI-powered robots automate food prep and assembly in commercial kitchens and food manufacturing, and have already produced over 110 million meals in production - generating the world's largest proprietary dataset for deformable food manipulation. Backed by investors including Kleiner Perkins, Construct, Bloomberg Beta, and Promus Ventures, and built by a team from Cruise, Zoox, Google, Tesla, and Amazon Robotics, Chef is rapidly scaling with multiple multi-year contracts and a mission to put an intelligent robot in every commercial kitchen.
About the Role
Chef is seeking a Robotic Operations Engineer to be the first point of contact for incoming issues at a customer site. You'll work from our SF office, monitoring and responding to support requests that come in through Slack, Microsoft Teams, our web portal, email, and phone; triaging, troubleshooting remotely, documenting, and escalating issues across our deployed fleet.In this role, you'll work in the office communicating with customers' operations teams to understand issues on site, triage incoming tickets with relevant data, investigate to determine a fix based on playbooks and deploy fixes or mitigations. When help is needed you will lead escalations to Systems Support Engineers and Applications Engineers. Further, you will work with the Customer Support Manager to improve existing performance and to develop and test new tasks for the robot leading to expansion at existing customers
This is an opportunity to use your deep technical expertise and passion for robotics while having a direct impact on Continuous Improvement and Chef's revenue stream. In this role, you'll be responsible for managing one of the core drivers of the company's success, our relationships with our customers. If you're excited about working in a customer-facing role on hard technical problems and you thrive in the fast-paced, dynamic environment of an early-stage startup, we'd love to hear from you. Please note that this is a customer facing role and works during off-hours.
Shift is from Fri-Mon from 6 am - 4 pm PST
In this role, you will:
  • Investigate customer issues, triage incoming tickets with relevant data, investigate to determine a fix and deploy fixes or mitigations
  • Perform remote diagnostics: guide on-site operators or field technicians through troubleshooting steps via company portal and internal tools.
  • Track and log hardware requests, part numbers, and part quantities using the hardware request workflow
  • Are familiar with APIs and technical RaaS products and can deeply understand technical docs with ease
  • Have demonstrated an ability to thrive in fast-paced, reactive situations while meeting core support metrics targets (e.g. CSAT, SLA, etc.)
  • Possess strong user empathy and are expert in the lifecycle of a support case; you can read between the lines of a user's question, put yourself in their shoes, and get at the heart of their needs for a speedy, satisfying resolution
  • Write and maintain internal external documentation: runbooks, troubleshooting guides, and FAQ articles based on real ticket patterns
  • Collaborate with Chef's Systems Support and Application teams to prioritize to resolve production blocking issues
  • Work with 3P Technicians to coordinate break/fix at a Customer Site
  • Keep customer portal tidy: maintain accurate ticket states, flag duplicates, and close resolved issues
  • Work with Chef's Customer Support Manager to improve existing performance

What You Bring:
  • BS in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
  • Minimum 1 years experience in a customer-facing role in applications engineering, deployment, solutions engineering, or similar roles
  • Prior experience in API integrations for Support tooling development
  • Comfort with command line interfaces and basic scripting (Bash, Python, JavaScript)
  • Demonstrated track record of shipping products quickly and efficiently
  • Able to work independently and with minimal supervision
  • Ability to travel at least 20% of your time is required
  • Must be available to work a flexible schedule to support customers, including on-call hours
  • Familiar with Linux/Unix and/or Robot Operating System (ROS); Python or Linux experience is a plus
  • Strong communications and project management skills to recognize, communicate, and properly document product issues, complaints and improvements

Preferred:
  • Bilingual English/Spanish - A large number of our customer on-site teams operate in Spanish

$90,000 - $120,000 a year
Chef is an early-stage startup where equity is a major part of the compensation package. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
In addition to salary and early-stage equity, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, commuter benefits, flexible paid time off (PTO), catered lunch, and 401(k) matching.
Chef Robotics is solving one of the hardest problems in AI and robotics - and we ship. Our robots are in production today, generating real data that trains the next generation of food AI. Backed by Kleiner Perkins, Construct, Bloomberg Beta, and Promus Ventures, and built by a team from Cruise, Zoox, Google, Tesla, and Amazon Robotics, we're scaling fast with multiple multi-year enterprise contracts. If you want to build physical AI with real-world deployments and real impact, Chef is the place.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.