Junior Systems Engineer

About Us

At Pickle Robot, we're on a mission to automate global supply chains with Physical AI. Our robots work alongside warehouse teams to unload trucks and containers — one of the toughest, most understaffed jobs in logistics — making the work safer, faster, and more efficient for the people doing it.  Loading trucks comes next, followed by the Dill Autonomy Engine: generalized autonomy that will eventually orchestrate robots across entire logistics processes.

We're looking for a Junior Systems Engineer to join the team that defines what our robotic unloading systems must do and proves that they do it. You will write and maintain system requirements, trace them from product needs through testing, and help author the design documents and interface definitions that let hardware and software teams build to a shared contract. Physical AI earns its place on a loading dock only when it is specified, traced, and verified like any other engineered system, and that is the work this role does. This role suits someone early in their career who likes structure, asks precise questions, and wants to learn how a complex robot comes together across mechanical, electrical, software, and test. You will work closely with Product, Engineering, and our System Verification and Test team, and spend time with the robots so that the requirements reflect how the system actually behaves. The requirements you write decide what our robots are held to and how we prove they meet them, and you'll see them tested on robots in our warehouse and at customer sites.

What You'll Do

• Write and maintain clear, measurable, testable system requirements, and keep the requirements register accurate as designs change.

• Trace product requirements to system requirements and test cases, identify coverage gaps, and drive them to closure.

• Prepare requirements for review and approval with Engineering, Test, and Systems, and work through feedback and rejections to resolution.

• Work with the System Verification and Test team to ensure test cases trace to requirements and that verification coverage is complete.

• Write feature requirements documents that define how each feature works across the robot's subsystems, and help develop cross-functional design solutions with mechanical, electrical, and software teams.

What You'll Bring

• Typically 0-3 years of experience in systems engineering, robotics, or a related engineering role. New graduates are welcome; 1-2 years of industry experience is a plus.

• Strong sense of ownership: you take a problem, see it through to completion, and make things happen without waiting to be asked.

• Internship, co-op, or student project experience (for example, competition teams or capstone projects) where you defined requirements, ran tests, or integrated hardware and software.

• Precise technical writer who can turn an ambiguous need into a requirement someone can build and test against.

• Organized and detail-oriented, comfortable keeping a large body of requirements consistent and up to date.

• Curious about how mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems interact, and willing to dig into the details of each.

• Clear communicator who works well with cross-functional teams and contributes thoughtfully to design reviews.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems Engineering preferred; degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field will be considered alongside relevant systems engineering experience.

• Onsite presence is expected at least 3 days per week at our Charlestown, MA offices to stay close to the hardware.

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with Jira or a similar tracking tool
• Exposure to requirements management or test planning
• Python scripting
• Experience with robots or other hardware in a production setting

Pay at Pickle

At Pickle Robot Company, we believe transparency builds trust. The salary range listed here is provided in accordance with Massachusetts law and reflects what we reasonably and in good faith expect to offer for this role. We often consider candidates at different levels of seniority, and final compensation will reflect the level at which a candidate is hired, along with factors like experience and location.

 

Pickle Perks 

Pickle provides best-in-class benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance; unlimited vacation; paid federal and state holidays; 401(k) contributions of 5% of your salary; company-covered travel expenses; and other perks to make your working life more fun, comfortable, and productive.