Engineering Manager, Hardware Design
Path Robotics · Columbus, OH
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
A management manufacturing role at Path Robotics (industrial) in Columbus, OH.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Root cause, GD&T, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Robotics, Automation, Tooling
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Ohio: typical posted base $81k–$115k.
Median of the low and high ends of 12 live postings that list pay, out of 79 manufacturing engineer openings in Ohio, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Ohio plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 78 other live manufacturing postings in Ohio.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 5+)
Typical $81k–$115k, from 12 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Lean 46%
- Team leadership 43%
- ✓ Tooling 38%
- ✓ Root cause 34%
- Six Sigma 34%
- New product launch 33%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for SolidWorks, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Path Robotics
We found 3 people at this company and state: 2 in this kind of role, 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Mike → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Path Robotics in Columbus
3 other open roles at this site · 3 people we found in manufacturing roles at Path Robotics.
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing · Senior
- Engineering Manager, Tier 2 Support · Manufacturing · Manager
- Welding Engineer, Robotics & Automation · Controls
Full description from Path RoboticsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
into hardware solutions.
- ✓Support the design of tasks, fixtures, and environments used to collect robotic manipulation training data.
- ✓Oversee the full hardware development lifecycle, including requirements, prototyping, testing, validation, production release, and deployment.
- ✓Work closely with vendors, suppliers, and internal manufacturing teams to accelerate hardware development.
- ✓Drive root-cause analysis, continuous improvement, and resolution of technical challenges identified during testing and field deployment.
- ✓Support hiring, team development, and the establishment of scalable engineering processes as Path grows.
Who You Are
- ✓Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- ✓7+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, robotics, automation, or industrial hardware development.
- ✓2+ years of experience leading or managing engineering teams.
- ✓Strong technical background in mechanical design, electromechanical systems, and robotic hardware development.
- ✓Experience designing end-of-arm tooling, grippers, fixtures, or sensor-integrated robotic systems.
- ✓Understanding of sensor integration, calibration, mechanical tolerances, and hardware reliability.
- ✓Experience developing mechanical and electrical interfaces for complex robotic systems.
- ✓Proficiency in SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software and PDM-based design workflows.
- ✓Demonstrated success bringing complex hardware products from concept through production and deployment.
- ✓Strong technical judgment, project management skills, and ability to balance competing engineering priorities.
- ✓Passionate about developing engineers, solving complex technical challenges, and building high-performing teams.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Build the Path Forward
At Path Robotics, we’re building the future of embodied intelligence. Our AI-driven systems enable robots to adapt, learn, and perform in the real world closing the skilled labor gap and transforming industries. We go beyond traditional methods, combining perception, reasoning, and control to deliver field-ready AI that is risk-aware, reliable, and continuously improving through real-world use.
Big, hard problems are our everyday work, and our team of intelligent, humble, and driven people make the impossible possible together.
We're looking for an experienced Engineering Manager, Mechanical Engineering & Hardware Design to lead the design and development of mechanical systems supporting Path's next generation of robotic manipulation products as we expand into factory automation.
As part of our Sensing and Embodied Intelligence team, you'll lead a team of engineers responsible for sensing end-of-arm tooling, robotic hardware, and the physical interfaces connecting robots, sensors, tools, and workpieces.
This is a hands-on leadership role that combines deep mechanical engineering expertise with people management, technical strategy, and cross-functional execution. You'll help define engineering direction, develop high-performing teams, and deliver reliable, scalable hardware solutions from concept through deployment.
What You’ll Do
- •Lead, mentor, and develop a team of mechanical engineers, providing technical guidance, performance feedback, and career development.
- •Own engineering priorities, resource planning, and execution of mechanical hardware development initiatives.
- •Oversee the design and development of sensing end-of-arm tooling, robotic components, fixtures, and electromechanical systems.
- •Drive the integration of cameras, 3D sensors, force/torque sensors, tactile sensors, and other sensing technologies into robotic hardware.
- •Define mechanical and physical interfaces between robots, tools, sensors, fixtures, and workpieces.
- •Lead technical design reviews and establish standards for reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, and system performance.
- •Partner with ML, Robotics, Software, and Electrical Engineering teams to translate product and model training
Nice to Have
- +Experience with robotic manipulation, industrial automation, or advanced manufacturing.
- +Familiarity with imitation learning, demonstration-based learning, or robotic data collection systems.
- +Experience integrating force/torque, tactile, vision, or 3D sensing technologies.
- +Knowledge of design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA), GD&T, and mechanical reliability testing.
- +Experience scaling hardware products in a high-growth robotics or technology environment.
What Will Make You Successful at Path
- +Technical Leader: You bring deep mechanical engineering expertise and sound technical judgment.
- +People Developer: You enjoy mentoring engineers, building strong teams, and helping others grow.
- +Hands-On: You're comfortable diving into design challenges and working alongside your team.
- +Execution-Focused: You balance innovation with delivering reliable, production-ready hardware.
- +Collaborative: You build strong partnerships across Mechanical, Electrical, Robotics, Software, and ML teams.
- +Adaptable: You thrive in a fast-paced environment where technical challenges and priorities continuously evolve.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
- •Daily free lunch to keep you fueled and connected with the team
- •Flexible PTO so you can take the time you need, when you need it
- •Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- •6 weeks fully paid parental leave, plus an additional 6–8 weeks for birthing parents (12–14 weeks total)
- •401(k) retirement plan through Empower
- •Generous employee referral bonuses—help us grow our team!